Detective who led Ethan Ives-Griffiths murder inquiry admits upskirting and other offences
Former North Wales Police detective constable Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, pleaded guilty to voyeurism, perverting the course of justice and misuse of police powers. He will be sentenced on 19 November.
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The story, neutrally told
Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, a former detective constable, has pleaded guilty to voyeurism involving "upskirting" of a child. BBC NewsN “Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, pleaded guilty to one charge of voyeurism” Read at BBC News ↗ MetroLC “A detective has admitted upskirting a teenage girl.” Read at Metro ↗ He also admitted perverting the course of justice by factory-resetting his mobile phone to conceal evidence, in an incident in Colwyn Bay, Conwy, on 11 June 2026. BBC NewsN “perverting the course of justice by applying a factory reset to his mobile phone to conceal evidence on 11 June 2026” Read at BBC News ↗ MetroLC “he factory-set his phone in an attempt to conceal evidence from criminal investigations” Read at Metro ↗ A third guilty plea was to corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges, by looking up his own incident on the police computer log. BBC NewsN “looking up his own incident on the computer log” Read at BBC News ↗ MetroLC “by viewing an internal log of the incident” Read at Metro ↗
He was a lead investigator in the case of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths, whose grandparents were convicted of his murder. BBC NewsN “lead investigator in the case of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths, whose grandparents were jailed for murder last year” Read at BBC News ↗ MetroLC “murdered by his grandparents, Michael and Kerry Ives” Read at Metro ↗ His barrister, Ryan Donoghue, asked for a pre-sentence report and said his client was of previous good character. BBC NewsN “Ryan Donoghue, defending, asked for a pre-sentence report for his client, who he said was of previous good character.” Read at BBC News ↗ Recorder Mark Ford KC warned that adjourning for a report gave no indication of the eventual sentence on "these serious counts"; Harshey-Jones was told he must sign the sex offenders register. BBC NewsN “He was told by Recorder Mark Ford KC he must sign the sex offenders register.” Read at BBC News ↗ MetroLC “should not be taken by you as any indication to you as to what sentence will be passed on these serious counts.” Read at Metro ↗
He remains on conditional bail and will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on 19 November. BBC NewsN “will be sentenced on 19 November” Read at BBC News ↗ MetroLC “Conditional bail for Harshey-Jones was extended until his sentencing date on November 19 at Chester Crown Court.” Read at Metro ↗ North Wales Police suspended him after his arrest; the force said he has since resigned and that, with criminal and misconduct proceedings active, it could not comment. BBC NewsN “He was suspended by North Wales Police after his arrest, and has since resigned from the force.” Read at BBC News ↗ MetroLC “Criminal proceedings and North Wales Police misconduct protocols remain active” Read at Metro ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the detective admitting upskirting a teenage girl, contrasting this with earlier praise for his murder investigation.
- Emphasis
- The murder case: names the grandparents and recounts distressing trial evidence.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the sex offenders register requirement.
- Charged language
- “horrific murder”“hailed”
- For example
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“was previously hailed for his work as a lead investigator in the horrific murder of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths” — Metro
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Court report led by the offences against a child and the detective's role in the Ethan Ives-Griffiths case.
- Emphasis
- Legal detail: the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the sex offenders register requirement and his resignation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not describe details of the Ives-Griffiths trial or name the grandparents.
- For example
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“He was a lead investigator in the case of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths who was murdered.” — BBC News
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, pleaded guilty to voyeurism, perverting the course of justice and misuse of police powers.
- He was lead investigator in the Ethan Ives-Griffiths murder case.
- He will be sentenced on 19 November and is on conditional bail.
- North Wales Police said he had resigned and declined further comment.
Where accounts differ
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Where the plea hearing took place and how the victim is described
- Left
- Metro says he appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court and describes the victim as a teenage girl.
- Centre
- BBC says the hearing was at Chester Crown Court and describes the victim as a child.
North Wales Police organisation
Said the former officer had resigned and that it could not comment while criminal and misconduct proceedings remain active.
“criminal proceedings and misconduct protocols remained active and it was unable to provide comment at this time.” — BBC News
Lee Harshey-Jones person
Pleaded guilty to all three charges; his barrister said he was of previous good character.
“He pleaded guilty to a third charge of corrupt or improper use of police powers and privileges” — Metro
Left1 article
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MetroLC ·
Detective admits upskirting teenage girl with his phone
Critical Contrasts the detective's earlier acclaim with his guilty pleas and adds trial detail from the murder case.
Centre1 article
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Detective admits 'upskirting' sex offences against a child
Neutral Straightforward court report stressing the offences and legal consequences.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 30 Sep 12:23 First BBC NewsN Detective admits 'upskirting' sex offences against a child
- 30 Sep 18:05 +5h 43m MetroLC Detective admits upskirting teenage girl with his phone
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.