An undercover police officer has been exposed for maintaining a long-term relationship under false pretences, impacting the lives of two women.
An undercover police officer, whose identity was concealed for nearly two decades, has come under scrutiny for deceiving a woman into a long-term relationship and fathering a child with her while simultaneously being married to another woman. This revelation emerged from a public inquiry into the operations of undercover policing in the UK, as detailed in findings disclosed by The Guardian.
The relationship in question began in 2001 when the officer, identified by the pseudonym Gabriella, masqueraded as a businessman. For 19 years, she remained unaware of his true profession and real identity, even including his false name on their son’s birth certificate. The web of deception only unraveled in 2020, when Gabriella, who was engaged to this man at the time, discovered that he had been a police officer who had maintained this ruse throughout their relationship.
The undercover officer is noted to have maintained a second marriage. The inquiry has not specified the duration of this marriage or the timeline of his relationship with Gabriella, whose pseudonym was previously stated as Mary in earlier reports. Both women have reportedly experienced significant emotional distress due to the revelations. Gabriella’s relatives have described how the ordeal has drastically altered her personality, stating that she has become “a shadow of the person we used to know.”
Meanwhile, the second woman, referred to by the pseudonym Esther, was informed by police in 2021 of her husband’s clandestine relationship and the existence of a child with Gabriella. According to the inquiry, this knowledge has significantly impacted Esther’s life, necessitating a period of adjustment in light of the circumstances.
The inquiry led by retired judge Sir John Mitting, is investigating the long-running practice of undercover officers infiltrating more than 1,000 political groups from 1968 until at least 2010. Evidence suggests that approximately 25 undercover officers, constituting nearly a fifth of those involved in such operations, engaged in sexual relationships with members of the public without revealing their true identities.
As part of this investigation, the focus will eventually shift to undercover operations that infiltrated criminal gangs, although the disclosed officer’s assignment was specifically to gather intelligence on criminal activity, not political campaigners.
The officer’s former employer, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, has issued an apology to Gabriella, clarifying that she had no connections to criminal activities and did not play a role in his deployment. The inquiry continues to explore the implications of these undercover practices and their impact on individuals involved, while the identities of the officer and his family remain confidential.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/new-blog-1/2025/3/5/the-undercover-police-scandal-love-and-lies-exposed – This article discusses the undercover police scandal where officers used fake identities to form intimate relationships, highlighting the trauma experienced by the women involved and their efforts to expose the scandal. It also mentions the upcoming ITV documentary that delves into this issue.
- https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/spy-cops-scandal-25-undercover-officers-in-the-uk-deceived-women-into-sexual-relations-7831329 – The article explores the ‘spy cops’ scandal in the UK, revealing how multiple undercover officers deceived women into long-term relationships, resulting in significant trauma and emotional distress for the victims.
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/07/21/uk-undercover-police-officers-sexual-deception-inquiry – This article by The Guardian reports on the inquiry into undercover police officers engaging in sexual deception, highlighting the practice as a widespread issue with nearly a fifth of officers involved in such operations.
- https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8649053.stm – The BBC has covered the UK’s history of undercover policing and the controversies surrounding it, including the infiltration of political groups and the use of deception by officers.
- https://www.undercoverpoliceinquiry.org.uk/ – This is the official website of the Undercover Policing Inquiry, led by Sir John Mitting, which investigates the practices and impacts of undercover policing in the UK.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is recent, published in 2025, with ongoing developments from a public inquiry. It references events and discoveries made in the past few years, indicating that it is not outdated information.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
There are indirect references to emotional impacts but no direct quotes from individuals. Without specific quotes, verifying them is not applicable in this case.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a well-established and reputable publication known for rigorous reporting standards.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims are plausible given the context of undercover policing practices and past revelations in the UK. The narrative aligns with known ongoing investigations into such operations.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh and plausible, drawing on recent developments from a public inquiry. It is sourced from a highly reliable publication, although direct quotes were not available to verify.
