A former detective has admitted taking pictures beneath the clothing of a child without consent – also known as “upskirting”.
Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, pleaded guilty to one charge of voyeurism and one of perverting the course of justice by applying a factory reset to his mobile phone to conceal evidence on 11 June 2026, in Colwyn Bay, Conwy county.
He was a detective constable and lead investigator in the case of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths, whose grandparents were jailed for murder last year, and has given evidence in other high-profile murder trials in north Wales.
Harshey-Jones was given conditional bail following a hearing at Chester Crown Court, and will be sentenced on 19 November.
He was suspended by North Wales Police after his arrest, and has since resigned from the force.
Harshey-Jones 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.
Ryan Donoghue, defending, asked for a pre-sentence report for his client, who he said was of previous good character.
He was told by Recorder Mark Ford KC he must sign the sex offenders register.
The recorder added: “The fact that I have adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report should not be taken by you as any indication to you as to what sentence will be passed on these serious counts.”
Operating equipment beneath clothing without consent is an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
North Wales Police said the former officer had resigned from the force.
The force added that, as criminal proceedings and misconduct protocols remained active, it was unable to provide comment at this time.