Officer asks `vulnerable` woman for naked photos and videos
A police officer who “instigated an inappropriate relationship” with a vulnerable woman has been warned to expect a prison term.
Sep 28, 2016
By Nick Hudson
A police officer who “instigated an inappropriate relationship” with a vulnerable woman has been warned to expect a prison term.
Police Constable Andrew Hurst met the woman, who was in her 20s, during a custody suite watch after she had been arrested for shoplifting.
After offering her help in getting mental health support from agencies, he continued to communicate with her on the phone and social media ¬ eventually urging her to send him naked photos and videos, St Albans Crown Court heard.
PC Hurst, 31, admitted a charge of misconduct in public office on Tuesday (September 27) in a case Bedfordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Mike Colbourne described as “deplorable conduct”.
The court heard that the communication between PC Hurst and the woman, who he first met in November 2014, progressed to being of a sexual nature.
The womans partner became aware of what was happening and notified the force on March 30, 2015.
PC Hurst, who joined Bedfordshire Police in 2009, was arrested the next day and suspended.
Mr Colbourne said: Protecting vulnerable people is a priority for Bedfordshire Police and we will not tolerate anyone who seeks to exploit those who are at risk of harm.
It is incredibly disappointing that, despite the considerable amount of work being done across the force to raise awareness of vulnerability, one of our own officers became involved in such an inappropriate relationship.
We acted swiftly to suspend him as soon as we became aware of his deplorable conduct.
We expect the highest standards of our officers and I would like to sincerely apologise to the woman involved in this case and her family for any upset caused.
PC Hurst will be sentenced on October 25, but the court heard he can expect to be jailed.