Former North Wales Detective Pleads Guilty to Child Voyeurism and Evidence Tampering

A former detective constable with North Wales Police has admitted to committing sexual offences against a child and attempting to destroy evidence, in a case that has raised serious questions about the conduct of an officer who once led major criminal investigations.

Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, entered guilty pleas at Chester Crown Court to one charge of voyeurism and one charge of perverting the course of justice. The voyeurism charge relates to taking photographs beneath the clothing of a child without that child's consent—an act commonly referred to as "upskirting."

The evidence-tampering charge stems from an incident on 11 June 2026 in Colwyn Bay, Conwy county, when Harshey-Jones applied a factory reset to his mobile phone in an attempt to conceal evidence. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of corrupt or improper exercise of his police powers and privileges by looking up his own incident on the computer log.

The case has drawn particular attention because of Harshey-Jones's prior role as a lead investigator in one of north Wales's most prominent murder cases. He was the detective constable responsible for investigating the death of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths, whose grandparents were jailed for murder last year.

Beyond that case, Harshey-Jones had given evidence in several other high-profile murder trials across the north Wales region, placing him at the centre of some of the most sensitive and serious criminal proceedings in the area. His admission of guilt therefore represents a significant breach of the trust placed in him by the criminal justice system.

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, operating equipment beneath a person's clothing without their consent constitutes a criminal offence. When the victim is a child, the seriousness of the offence is substantially aggravated in the eyes of the law.

Following his arrest, Harshey-Jones was suspended by North Wales Police. He has since resigned from the force, meaning he no longer serves as a police officer. His resignation does not, however, affect the criminal proceedings against him.

At the Chester Crown Court hearing, Recorder Mark Ford KC ordered Harshey-Jones to sign the sex offenders register. The recorder also granted conditional bail and adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report. Sentencing has been scheduled for 19 November.

Ryan Donoghue, appearing for the defence, requested that a pre-sentence report be prepared for his client, whom he described as being of previous good character. The request was granted, but Recorder Ford issued a clear warning to the defendant about the gravity of the situation.

The recorder told Harshey-Jones that the decision to adjourn the case for a pre-sentence report should not be interpreted as any indication of the sentence that would ultimately be imposed on what he described as "these serious counts."

North Wales Police confirmed that the former officer had resigned from the force. The force also stated that because criminal proceedings and misconduct protocols remain active, it was unable to provide further comment at this time. This indicates that an internal misconduct process may still be pending alongside the criminal case.

The case raises broader concerns about police oversight and the systems designed to detect and prevent abuse of authority. Harshey-Jones was able to access police computer systems to look up details of his own incident—a fact that suggests potential gaps in the safeguards meant to prevent officers from misusing confidential databases for personal reasons.

The timing of the offences is also significant. The evidence-tampering charge relates to actions taken in June 2026, while the voyeurism offence involved a child victim. The combination of sexual offending against a minor and the deliberate destruction of potential evidence points to a calculated attempt to avoid accountability.

Legal observers note that charges of perverting the course of justice are treated with particular severity by the courts because they strike at the heart of the justice system's ability to function. When committed by a serving police officer, the offence is considered an even more serious betrayal of public trust.

The fact that Harshey-Jones had previously been entrusted with leading investigations into the death of a young child will intensify public scrutiny of how such an individual was able to reach and maintain a position of authority within the force. Questions are likely to be asked about whether warning signs were missed and whether vetting procedures were adequate.

The sentencing hearing on 19 November will determine the length of any custodial sentence, as well as the specific requirements placed on Harshey-Jones as a registered sex offender. The judge has already indicated that the offences are serious, and the pre-sentence report will provide the court with a detailed assessment of the defendant's circumstances and risk level.

For the family of Ethan Ives-Griffiths and others affected by the cases Harshey-Jones worked on, the guilty pleas may compound the distress caused by the original crimes. The integrity of investigations he was involved in could also face renewed scrutiny from defence lawyers seeking grounds for appeal.

The case serves as a stark reminder that those sworn to uphold the law are not immune from breaking it, and that the consequences of such breaches extend far beyond the individuals directly involved. As the matter returns to court in November, attention will remain focused on how the justice system responds to one of its own having fallen so far short of the standards expected.