Former PCSO given eight month suspended prison sentence

A former PCSO who used police computer systems to check on the whereabouts of a colleague and watch her body worn camera footage has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ben Hale, who was based in Cheltenham, became fixated on a member of his team to the extent he refused to be partnered with anyone else and tried to monopolise her company.

He appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court today (Friday 4 April) for sentence having pleaded guilty to a Computer Misuse Act offence at an earlier hearing.

He was subsequently sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and given a restraining order banning him from contacting his for victim for three years. District Judge Matthews also told him he must not conduct any online searches in relation to his victim.

In addition to the suspended prison sentence, Hale must also carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 in compensation to his victim, as well as court costs.

Investigators considered charging Hale with stalking however the Crown Prosecution Service deemed there was insufficient evidence to charge this offence.

The offending took place between 13 August and 10 September 2023.

Hale resigned from Gloucestershire Police in May 2024 and was later found to have committed gross misconduct in relation to unconnected data breaches.

The panel which oversaw his gross misconduct hearing concluded he would have been dismissed had he not already resigned. He was subsequently added to the Police Barred List.

Deputy Chief Constable Katy Barrow-Grint said: "Ben Hale’s actions are deeply disturbing.

"His victim found his behaviour stifling and an invasion of her privacy and there is no place in policing for someone like him.

"The offence he has admitted is a betrayal of the public’s trust, who rightfully expect the information available to police personnel is only accessed for legitimate policing reasons."