A former CCTV operator with Dyfed Powys Police has pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour and data protection offences.

Forty one year old Russell Hasler, from Llandysul, pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour and data protection offences two days before he was due to stand trial at Swansea Crown Court.

He was arrested back in 2023 by Professional Standards Department officers who were investigating these offences; and now faces sentencing in November.

Hasler was employed by Dyfed-Powys Police as a CCTV operator – a police staff role based in the headquarters at Llangunnor, Carmarthen – from May 2019 until November 2023.

On October 18, 2023, the CCTV operator was arrested by officers from Dyfed-Powys Police’s Professional Standards Department on suspicion of coercive and controlling behaviour, computer misuse and data protection offences.

Hasler resigned from his police staff position while under investigation by the Professional Standards Department.

Hasler was subsequently charged with all three offences and admitted to the data protection offences on 5 March 2025.

The forty one yyear old maintained his innocence against the coercive and controlling behaviour charge until Monday, October 20 when he pleaded guilty just two days before the trial.

He denied the computer misuse offence and no further action is being taken on this charge.

Russell Hasler is due to be sentenced on Monday, November 24 at Swansea Crown Court.

Superintendent Phil Rowe, Head of the Professional Standards Department, said: “Domestic abuse will not be tolerated within Dyfed-Powys – whether the offender is a member of the public or from within our organisation.

"As a force, we are committed to working towards the elimination of domestic abuse, and that is a priority not just within our communities - but also internally here at Dyfed-Powys Police. We welcome this guilty plea and await the sentencing,” he added.