Special constable condemned as "appalling" after sending explicit images to three women

South Yorkshire Police volunteer Faron Hanson was handed a two-year community order at Leeds Magistrates’ Court yesterday after being convicted of three counts ofusing a public electronic communications network to send a grossly offensive or indecent message.

Hanson (26), was a special constable with the force when, in May 2021, a woman came forward to police to report that she had received an explicit image via Snapchat.

An investigation was launched, and the sender of the image was identified as Hanson.

He was arrested and immediately suspended from duty.

Enquiries subsequently identified more women, who had received offensive and indecent images from Hanson over social networking sites.

Det Supt Delphine Waring, head of the force’s professional standards separtment, said: “Upon receiving a report that sexually inappropriate and explicit images had been shared by a serving Special Constable, we acted quickly to arrest Hanson and seize his devices.

“Hanson’s behaviour is appalling and falls far, far below that which we expect of any officer or staff member.

“He refused to accept responsibility for his crimes, meaning this matter had to go to trial and I am pleased that he was convicted based on the wealth of evidence put before the court.

“This was thanks in no small part to the testimony of the women Hanson targeted with his communications.

“I commend the victims for supporting our investigation and bravely giving evidence in court about what happened.”

Hanson, of Scawsby in Doncaster, was found guilty of three offences contrary to Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

He was sentenced to a two-year community order, 60 days of rehabilitation activity requirements, 200 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay costs and served restraining orders for each of his victims.

Many social media users on the SYP Facebook page said the sentence was too lenient and Hanson should have been jailed instead.

Following the conclusion of the court case, accelerated misconduct proceedings are underway, and Hanson remains suspended from duty.