A DETECTIVE accused of sending explicit photos of himself to women while on duty resigned his post before he could face a hearing.

Damien Cotgreave sent streams of messages while he was meant to be focused on protecting the public, a panel was told.

The drugs expert also visited the home of one woman during a two-hour absence from his post during which he gave her a massage, it is claimed.

The 45-year-old ex-officer declined to appear before a disciplinary panel at Sussex Police HQ in Lewes today which went ahead in his absence.

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He faces 21 allegations over his interactions with 12 different women and accepts 16 of them, the hearing was told.

Louise Ravenscroft, bringing the allegations, said: “The communications are either sexual in nature, which included the sending of sexualised images or videos, or the communications are inappropriate in sheer volume.”

She argued that the conduct was “distracting Mr Cotgreave from his duties” and said all but one of the allegations took place while he was on duty.

Mr Cotgreave, who joined the police in 2013, resigned his post in October 2020.

A number of the allegations involve Mr Cotgreave sending pictures of his penis.

On one occasion in February last year, the officer accepts he attended the address of a woman despite having no policing purpose.

While there he is accused of giving her a “massage” under her clothing – an allegation Mr Cotgreave denies.

The visit, which took place while he was on duty, amounted to a two-hour absence from his post, the panel heard.

Ms Ravenscroft said: “He is clearly visiting her for his own personal reasons to advance the relationship as opposed to doing his work.”

Another allegation involves Mr Cotgreave exchanging messages with a 19-year-old woman.

The hearing was told that the messages took on a “sexual nature” when he asked her “what do you like for fun”.

The accusations, if proven, could amount to gross misconduct which could have led to Mr Cotgreave being sacked had he still been employed by Sussex Police.