Met detective guilty after showing Croydon murder scene photos

Detective Sergeant Jason Grafham was found guilty of gross misconduct after a hearing ruled he had retained the crime scene images without any policing purpose.

Sally, who attended Cheam High School whilst growing up, Bowman was sexually assaulted and killed just yards from her South Croydon home on September 25, 2005.

Initially, detectives investigated her ex-boyfriend, who had driven her home shortly before the attack, but DNA evidence eliminated him from inquiries.

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The case remained unsolved until June 2006, when a routine DNA sample taken from Croydon chef Mark Dixie after an unrelated arrest matched DNA recovered from the scene. Dixie was convicted of rape and murder at the Old Bailey in February 2008 and jailed for life with a minimum term of 34 years.

Commander Paul Trevers, who chaired the panel, said Grafham had no legitimate policing reason to possess or display the photographs.

He said: "The panel finds that former DS Jason Grafham retained papers and photographs when there was no policing reason to do so.

"He showed photographs to other officers when there was no policing purpose to do so. He admitted possessing and showing the photographs but maintained that was for policing purposes. The panel does not accept this explanation."

Commander Trevers said displaying the images without a policing purpose was "profoundly inappropriate" and failed to treat Ms Bowman with dignity.

He added: "Even after 20 years, the emotional harm, grief and disruption to their lives remains significant and the officer's actions compounded this."

The hearing had previously been told that officers searched Grafham's desk in December 2024 after concerns were raised by colleagues. During the search, "extremely graphic" photocopies of crime scene photographs were discovered in a locked cabinet.

One witness, known only as Miss B, told the tribunal she believed Grafham kept and showed the images for "entertainment and bragging purposes".

She said: "It wasn't the first time I'd heard him talking about it, he obviously worked on it.

"He liked to hold court, to talk about jobs he worked on, especially high profile. However on this occasion it was highly inappropriate. I found it disturbing.

"It wasn't formal, it felt like he was bragging, it wasn't for any educational purposes. I felt he was showing off."

Another colleague, referred to as Miss C, said Grafham's repeated references to the Sally Anne Bowman investigation had become a "running joke" within the office.

Grafham's representative, Mark Scrutton, argued that the photographs had been retained for policing purposes and said the former detective had been "incredibly proud" of his role as exhibits officer in the investigation.

However, the panel rejected that explanation and concluded the photographs had been retained and shown without any professional justification.

The tribunal also found Grafham guilty of gross misconduct over a series of sexually inappropriate comments and discriminatory and/or derogatory remarks made to colleagues between March and December 2024.

The panel ruled that all five allegations of sexually inappropriate remarks were proven, along with all but one of the discriminatory and/or derogatory comments.

Grafham retired from the Metropolitan Police the day before the hearing began and did not attend any stage of the proceedings. Commander Trevers said he would have been dismissed had he still been serving.

As a result of the findings, Grafham has been placed on the College of Policing barred list, preventing him from serving in policing again.

Following the outcome, Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Craggs said: "The actions of former DS Grafham were despicable, incomprehensible and deeply disrespectful.

"I am profoundly sorry to the family and loved ones of Sally Anne Bowman for the additional pain and distress caused to them by what he did.

"Grafham's comments to colleagues were also incredibly offensive and inappropriate. There is no place in the organisation for those who think such behaviour and language is acceptable.

"We are all appalled by his conduct and grateful to colleagues who had the confidence to come forward and report their concerns, which we were able to swiftly act on."