Disgraced Police Officer Who Preyed On TWO Vulnerable Women And Was Jailed For Misconduct Would Have Been SACKED If He Hadn’t Already Quit

A disgraced police officer who formed inappropriate relationships with two vulnerable women and was jailed for misconduct in public office would have been sacked had he not already left the force, a disciplinary hearing has ruled.

Former Gwent Police constable Paul Chadwick was condemned for his “abhorrent” behaviour after a misconduct hearing found he had abused the trust and responsibility placed in him as a police officer.

Chadwick, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting two counts of misconduct in public office, did not attend the disciplinary proceedings and offered no defence to the allegations.

Assistant Chief Constable John Wade said the former officer’s conduct was “totally and utterly unacceptable” and had damaged public confidence in policing.

He ruled Chadwick would have been dismissed immediately if he had still been serving, and directed that his name be referred to the College of Policing for inclusion on the Police Barred List.

The accelerated misconduct hearing, held on September 10, 2026, heard that Chadwick formed inappropriate relationships with two female members of the public while serving as a police officer.

The women were identified only as Ms A and Ms B.

Following an investigation, Chadwick was arrested by Gwent Police officers and charged with two offences of misconduct in public office.

He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on December 20, 2021, where he pleaded guilty to both offences.

He received an immediate prison sentence of 18 months, alongside a concurrent six-month sentence.

‘Abused that trust and responsibility’

Despite having already left Gwent Police through retirement, Chadwick remained subject to disciplinary proceedings over his criminal convictions.

The force argued that his behaviour had breached the professional standard of Discreditable Conduct and was so serious that it amounted to gross misconduct.

Chadwick had only limited engagement with the proceedings.

He did not submit a formal response and had recently informed the force that he did not wish to comment on the allegations.

The hearing proceeded in his absence.

In his written decision, ACC Wade said the former officer could not realistically dispute the convictions after pleading guilty to the criminal offences.

He found the allegations proven on the balance of probabilities and concluded that Chadwick’s actions had undermined public confidence in policing.

ACC Wade said: “All police officers hold a position of trust and responsibility, and former PC Chadwick has abused that trust and responsibility, and this increases culpability.”

He described the convictions as being of the “utmost gravity in the professional context” and said they carried a high degree of culpability.

He added: “It is entirely unacceptable for police officers who are responsible for enforcing the law to break the law themselves.”

Vulnerable victims suffered ‘actual harm and distress’

The hearing found that Chadwick’s actions had caused harm not only to the reputation of Gwent Police but also to the two women involved.

ACC Wade said: “Former PC Chadwick has caused actual harm and distress to his vulnerable victims.”

He identified several aggravating factors, including that the misconduct was intentional, deliberate, targeted and planned.

The former officer had also derived an element of personal advantage from his actions and had continued his behaviour after he knew, or should have known, it was improper.

ACC Wade stated: “The conduct is abhorrent and wholly unacceptable.”

He also said that misconduct of this nature was a matter of national and local concern.

No mitigating factors were identified in relation to the seriousness of the misconduct, and Chadwick had provided no personal mitigation.

‘Police officers should be trusted to the ends of the earth’

In a damning conclusion, ACC Wade ruled that Chadwick’s behaviour was incompatible with the standards expected of police officers.

He said: “The behaviour of former PC Chadwick is totally and utterly unacceptable. There is no room in Gwent Police for this type of behaviour.”

He stressed that officers’ professional responsibilities did not end when they finished their shift or left the police service.

“Police officers should be trusted to the ends of the earth,” he said.

“The public rightly expect our officers to uphold the highest professional standards, and former PC Chadwick has failed to do so.”

The hearing concluded that Chadwick would have been immediately dismissed had he not already resigned and ceased to be a serving police officer.

ACC Wade stressed that disciplinary proceedings remained important even when the person involved had already left policing.

He said holding former officers accountable was essential to maintaining public confidence and ensuring transparency.

He also praised the vast majority of Gwent Police officers, staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to protect the public, warning that those who breached professional standards undermined the reputation of the wider service.

The decision will be referred to the College of Policing so Chadwick can be placed on the Police Barred List, preventing him from returning to policing in England and Wales while barred.

The misconduct hearing formally found that Chadwick’s convictions amounted to gross misconduct and that he would have been dismissed had he still been a serving officer.