Firefighter Jailed for Sharing Accident Photos

Cameron Hancel, a former firefighter with West Midlands Fire Service, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for misconduct in public office after taking and sharing inappropriate photographs of a deceased victim, Kevin Doughty, following a car crash in March 2023. Hancel, 34, sent the images via WhatsApp to friends, accompanied by offensive comments, including referring to Doughty as a 'fat corpse'. His actions were discovered during a police investigation, leading to his arrest and dismissal from the fire service. The court emphasized that Hancel's behavior was a severe breach of public trust, causing further distress to the victim's family. Hancel defended his actions as a coping mechanism for the pressures of his job but ultimately pled guilty to the charges against him. The prosecution expressed hope that the sentencing would provide some measure of justice for Doughty's grieving family.