Police officer left vulnerable woman who felt ‘violated’ – hearing

A police dog handler allegedly sent a vulnerable woman explicit sexual messages that left her feeling “dirty and violated”, a misconduct panel has heard.

Avon and Somerset police officer Philip Paul Nicholls, based in South Gloucestershire, is accused of developing an inappropriate relationship with the woman, who was a survivor of serious domestic violence.

The hearing was told that PC Nicholls had repeatedly contacted the woman on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to tell her he wanted to have sex with her.

He has denied the claims, writing in response to the accusations that the messages – all of which have been deleted by both parties – were “mutually flirtatious.”