Cop who romped with prostitutes goes from bravery award winner to police barred list
The officer admitted using the services of sex workers after “incriminating” text messages were found on his phone
A serving South Yorkshire Police officer who had previously been awarded a bravery reward used the services of prostitutes in exchange for money on two separate occasions in the space of just 10 days.
Oliver Hawley also communicated with sex workers over three days to facilitate meeting them, a misconduct hearing heard.
Hawley was employed as a police constable in Rotherham after joining the force in 2022, but resigned on September 4, 2026, less than a week before he was due to face the sex worker allegations at the hearing on Thursday (September 10).
He did not attend his misconduct hearing, chaired by South Yorkshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane, and it proceeded in his absence.
Hawley did, however, admit “engaging in the misconduct alleged” across five allegations related to him using the services of, and communicating with, sex workers between October 1 and 10, 2025.
Representing the appropriate authority, Ian Mullarkey said Hawley’s involvement with prostitutes was flagged with South Yorkshire Police’s (SYP) professional standards department on October 21, 2025.
It followed the discovery of “incriminating” text messages on his phone, which were found in a folder for deleted messages. Photographs of the messages, taken on a different phone, were passed on to corroborate the allegations.
"The officer contacted somebody engaged in sex work, discussing prices and making arrangements to meet," Mr Mullarkey said.
He continued: "It's clear the former officer arrives at that location. Details are given on how to arrive at the room where the sex worker was located."
The misconduct panel were told that Hawley went to a different sex worker on the next occasion.
A meeting between SYP’s professional standards department and Hawley was held in February 2026, when he indicated he did not wish to be interviewed.
Mr Mullarkey referred the panel to police guidance from April 2025, which makes clear that "the use of people who provide sexual services is now incompatible with the role of a police officer or police staff."
The panel found all five allegations proven, and said Hawley’s conduct both individually and cumulatively amounted to gross misconduct.
They ruled that Hawley would have been sacked from SYP, had he not resigned, and ordered that he be placed on the police barred list.
When reaching that determination, ACC McFarlane said the panel had taken factors such as Hawley’s police record, including the fact he has previously received a bravery award, into consideration.