Met detective who showed colleagues photos of murdered model Sally Anne Bowman for 'bragging rights' retires before he can be sacked

Published: 01:47, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 01:51, 18 July 2026 A Met Police detective who showed his colleagues crime scene images of murdered model Sally Anne Bowman retired days before being found guilty of gross misconduct.  Detective Sergeant Jason Grafham was exhibits officer on the case of murdered 18-year-old Sally Anne, who was stabbed to death and raped in Croydon on September 25, 2005. Serial rapist Mark Dixie was convicted in 2008 and jailed for life with a minimum of 34 years.  Grafham was reported after colleagues said he had shown them photos of the victim's body, saying he used them for 'showing off' and 'entertainment and bragging rights'.  A subsequent search of Grafham's desk in 2024 found 'extremely graphic' photocopies in a locked cabinet.  Grafham was accused of keeping the images from the scene where Sally Anne was found dead, showing the images without a policing reason and making sexually inappropriate remarks to three colleagues.  A misconduct hearing held in Southwark began on Tuesday and was not attended by Grafham. His Police Federation representative said Grafham admitted making three inappropriate remarks but he denied keeping the photos.  The hearing ruled that Grafham's actions had compounded the emotional harm and grief suffered by Sally Anne's family, and that there was no policing reason for him to possess the photograph of the 18-year-old.  He was also found guilty of making several sexually inappropriate, discriminatory and/or derogatory remarks to colleagues. Sally Anne Bowman - an aspiring model was raped and murdered just yards from her home in from Croydon, south London, in a crime that shocked Britain   Serial rapist Mark Dixie (pictured) was convicted for the crime in 2008 and jailed for life with a minimum of 34 years   Grafham would have been sacked from the force as a result of the findings, but he retired one day before the tribunal began.  The hearing heard how Grafham, who was based in the Met's Central Specialist Crime unit, had been 'proud' of his role in the Sally Anne case, and spoke of it frequently to his colleagues.  One witness, referred to as Miss C, said it was a 'running joke' how often Grafham mentioned the case, saying: 'That job featured highly in his mind because it was very high profile.' She added that the photos were used more as 'an old war story' than 'in a professional way'.  Another witness, Miss B, said she thought Grafham used them for 'bragging rights', telling the hearing: '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.'  A third colleague, Miss A, said Grafham had made sexually inappropriate comments towards her, the BBC reported.  Grafham's line manager, Detective Inspector Louise Caveen, said she was aware the detective was seeking help for alcohol issues but that he had remained in post until his suspension in December 2024.  Sally-Anne won a contest to become the face of watch brand Swatch and declared herself 'the happiest girl in the world' after appearing on the catwalk for the first time in a leading fashion show. Pictured on the Swatch catwalk shoot in 2005 Sally Anne was hailed as the next Kate Moss due to being from Croydon  Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Craggs apologised to Sally Anne's family, saying Grafham's actions were 'despicable, incomprehensible and deeply disrespectful'. She said: '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.'  Tribunal chairman Paul Trevers said that displaying the photos without any policing purpose 'was profoundly inappropriate and failed to treat the victim with dignity'. He said: 'Even after 20 years, the emotional harm, grief and disruption to [the Bowman family's] lives remains significant and the officer's actions compounded this.' An aspiring model from south London who wanted to be the next Kate Moss, Sally Anne Bowman's brutal murder over 20 years ago shocked the nation.  Sally Anne, who was also a talented singer and dancer, had beaten 700 applicants to win a place at the nearby BRIT performing arts school where former pupils include Adele, Amy Winehouse and Tom Holland. She went on to win a contest to become the face of watch brand Swatch and declared herself 'the happiest girl in the world' after appearing on the catwalk for the first time in a leading fashion show. At 18, she was the youngest of four girls, the baby of the family, whose loved ones were fiercely proud of her and in no doubt she would go on to find fame and fortune. Tragically, Sally Anne came to the public's attention in a very different way after her partially naked body was discovered in a pool of blood on the driveway of her family home on September 25 2005. She had been stabbed seven times, including in the neck and stomach, repeatedly bitten and savagely raped as she lay dead or dying. Her Prada handbag, cardigan, underwear and mobile phone were stolen after her body was dumped near a workman's skip just yards away from the safety of her front door. It was only in 2015 that Dixie confessed to Sally Anne's murder and two years later he was handed two further life sentences after he admitted sex attacks on two other women.