Former Police Scotland officer avoids jail for sexual comments

A former police officer who admitted communicating indecently with women has avoided a jail sentence.

A court heard Peter Fleming, 41, used sexualised language while he was serving on the Isle of Bute that made three female colleagues feel “exceptionally uncomfortable”.

Fleming was sentenced to 160 hours of unpaid work, placed under supervision for two years and will be on the sex offenders’ register for the same length of time.

The constable resigned from the force earlier this year, after he pleaded guilty to the three charges in January.

There were angry scenes outside the court as Fleming left the building, during which a BBC cameraman who was filming his departure was pushed by a uniformed police officer.

At a previous hearing Fleming was told his graphic sexual comments were “appalling”.

After he was sentenced at Greenock Sheriff Court, Police Scotland said his actions went against everything the force stood for.

Ch Supt Helen Harrison, of Police Scotland’s Professional Standards department, said: “It is right that policing is held to high standards at all times, and we will always support officers and staff acting with our values and standards at heart.

“The onus is on policing to build and maintain public confidence and consent which is critical in our ability to keep our communities and citizens safe.”

“Communicating indecently is never acceptable in society, no matter what position you hold, and these crimes will always be fully investigated.”