POLICE OFFICER AVOIDS JAIL FOR STALKING CONVICTION
A former officer with Avon and Somerset Police has received a sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of stalking without threatening violence.
PC Philip Paul Nicholls, aged 52 and based in South Gloucestershire, admitted the charge at Newport Magistrates’ Court on 5 March.
He was subsequently sentenced there on 2 April to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.
Gwent Police had arrested Nicholls earlier in March, on Monday 3rd, 2025, following a report from a woman who claimed he was stalking her.
The arrest took place on the same day.
The stalking involved Nicholls trying repeatedly to contact the woman through phone calls, letters, and by involving people she knew between January and March 2025, despite her asking him to stop.
The two were known to each other.
After his guilty plea, an expedited misconduct hearing was convened on 27 March, chaired by Craig Holden.
Nicholls was found to have committed gross misconduct and would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned from the police force.
He has now been added to the national barred list, restricting his ability to work in policing or law enforcement roles in the future.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
hire, admitted the charge at Newport Magistrates' Court on 5 March. He was subsequently sentenced there on 2 April to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. Gwent Police had arrested Nicholls earlier in March, on Monday 3rd, 2025, ...
Prison sentence
18 weeks
He was subsequently sentenced there on 2 April to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months
Suspended sentence
18 months
He was subsequently sentenced there on 2 April to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months
