FORMER STEVENAGE POLICE OFFICER BEN PITELEN SENTENCED IN HERTFORDSHIRE FOR CORRUPTION AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

FORMER STEVENAGE POLICE OFFICER BEN PITELEN SENTENCED IN HERTFORDSHIRE FOR CORRUPTION AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

A former police officer based in Stevenage has been sentenced to prison after admitting to charges of corruption and the production of indecent images of children.

Ben Pitelen, aged 45, was suspended from Hertfordshire Constabulary in July 2020 when the allegations first emerged and was subsequently dismissed during a special hearing in September of the same year.

Pitelen, who served with the Roads Policing Unit in Stevenage, appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court last Friday and received a sentence of 25 months in prison.

The case involved allegations of police corruption related to inappropriate sexual communication with a third party.

Having joined the police force in 2000, Pitelen worked exclusively in uniform roles, initially as a response officer until 2004, when he transitioned to road policing, where he remained until the offences surfaced.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Matt Nicholls commented on the case, saying, "These are very serious offences involving an officer who has betrayed the trust placed in him in an appalling way.

I hope the public is reassured by our continued efforts to tackle corruption in the service and bring offenders to justice."