South Yorkshire Police detective lied to victims of sex abuse then covered it up when filling paperwork
She also lied to the DVLA about her ex-partner to try and get their driving licence revoked
A South Yorkshire Police officer “gaslit” victims of sex abuse about whether their case would go to court or not.
Former Detective Constable Lindsey Fishwick resigned from South Yorkshire Police in May 2026 after nearly 20 years in the force, including nine years in the Vulnerable People Unit.
However, at a misconduct hearing on Friday (November6), a panel ruled she lied to victims of serious sexual assault multiple times about if their cases had progressed, as well as telling her bosses she had been in touch with victims when she had not.
Additionally, the former DC carried out coercive and controlling behaviour against her partner of four years, including smashing her phone, punching her in the arm and demanding to see her texts.
‘Gaslit’
The panel heard how Ms Fishwick told an alleged rape victim and her social worker in 2021 that their case was ongoing and that officers at the CPS were considering charging a suspect, when she knew it had already been closed.
She then also filled a digital case log to say she had done her job and contacted the victim to tell her her case had concluded, when she had not.
The victim said in an impact statement that she felt “let down by the justice system,” while her social worker described feeling “gaslit” by the officer.
‘Misled victims of serious sexual assault’
In another case, where she was in contact the father of an alleged teenage rape victim, Ms Fishwick reportedly filled in the case log on more than seven occasions over the course of 2021 to say she had contacted the dad with updates, when she had not.
The father said in a written statement that he often felt “helpless when he was unable to offer his daughter updates” on her case that Ms Fishwick should have been providing, and that his child “went off the rails” as she went for months without answers.
Another alleged sex assault victim claimed Ms Fishwick had suggested she get in touch with her abuser to rearrange getting some of her things back. The victim said in statement she found the officer “patronising” at at one point considered retracting her statement.
‘Coercive and controlling behaviour’
The final allegations accused Ms Fishwick of coercive and controlling behaviour towards her partner of four years, including demanding to see her phone for evidence of cheating, punching her in the arm during arguments, “gripping” her arms so she could not leave during arguments, and “constantly” messaging to ask where she was.
Another incident saw Fishwick smash the woman’s phone on the floor after accusing her of “deleting messages and content” to hide evidence of cheating.
It culminated in Fishwick contacting the DVLA after they split in 2024 to falsely claim the woman was not medically fit to drive.
Fishwick’s statement
Former DC Lindsey Fishwick did not attend the misconduct hearing.
In a statement read out on behalf by a representative of the South Yorkshire Police Federation, Paul Briggs, Ms Fishwick “strongly rejected” that “mistakes in timing when updating the case log could be perceived as dishonesty,” and described the “great pressure” of her job.
She wrote: “Throughout 20 years I’ve never received any warning or concerns about my behaviour.
“I strong dispute that I was dishonest or deliberately misled [victims].
“It’s extremely difficult to be sitting here having my honesty questioned.”
Ms Fishwick further claimed that she was also a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her partner.
She said: “Throughout my interviews with [during proceedings] I repeatedly disclosed the abuse I was experiencing.
“I feel my own organisation did so little to support me.
“I dedicated 20 years to SYP - I deserved the same system of support that we provide to victims. When I was in that position myself I felt abandoned.
“I strongly reject the allegation of controlling and coercive behaviour, and the abuse was the other way around.”
She further claimed she contacted the DVLA out of “genuine concern about suspected fraud, and I was fulfilling my duties as a police officer.”
‘Proven’
However, the panel today found Ms Fishwick’s actions amounted to gross misconduct, and, if she had not already resigned, she would be removed from her post.
The panel concluded: “Many people come into contact with police during difficult periods in their lives - they are entitled to be treated with integrity and honesty.
“The officer has failed to do so in three separate investigations.
“False records were created and provided on multiple occasions.
“The officer’s actions actions significantly discredit South Yorkshire Police and the police service as a whole.“