Police officer developed PTSD over handling of fiancée's affair with colleague, court told

A consultant psychiatrist has told a court that a former North Wales Police officer developed complex post-traumatic stress following what he described as "institutional trauma".

Andrew Fearon is suing the force after his fiancée cheated on him with a colleague, and later married a senior officer brought in to investigate the matter.

Liverpool Civil Court was told that Fearon was engaged to marry fellow officer Rebecca Hutt, but they split in 2017 after she had an affair.

The court heard the complainant had his access to some police stations withdrawn after threatening to arrest the officer investigating the affair, after which point he developed PTSD.

The original grievance process found there was no case to answer after an investigation into Hutt was held, overseen by Det Supt Steven Williams.

But the court heard that it became public knowledge in 2021 that Williams and Hutt had married.

Fearon told the court he believed the force's investigation into his complaints had been "scuttled" by the senior officer.

It emerged he threatened to arrest Williams, and as a result had his access to police stations in north Wales withdrawn.

Psychiatrist Prof Douglas Turkington said the decision triggered complex PTSD.

"His fob access is revoked. He has become a victim of the institution," said Turkington, who was called to give evidence on behalf of Fearon.

"At that point his mental health completely breaks. He develops complex PTSD."

During the proceedings, Fearon and his legal team accepted Williams was not in a relationship with his former fiancée at the time of the complaint investigation.

Giving evidence on Friday, Williams told the court he did not start seeing Hutt until April 2020, when he invited her to join him on a bike ride.

He said he later informed the force's public standards team that he was in a relationship with the officer.

Fearon's case is that North Wales Police should have referred his complaints to an outside police force, something he asked to happen four times in 2018, and which breached their duty of care towards him.

He claims the poor response from the force caused him further trauma.

He is seeking £343,251 in damages and loss of earnings.

The hearing is continuing.