Police chief ‘ forced junior woman into sex acts in his car’
A SENIOR officer with a scandal- hit police force abused his position to pressurise a vulnerable civilian employee 20 years his junior into carrying out sex acts in his car, a tribunal heard yesterday.
The force’s Chief Constable Michael Craik allegedly had a “quiet word” with Superintendent David Borrie, 57, when his actions were revealed. He was not dismissed because he would lose his police pension but was advised, “Don’t apply for promotion”, it was claimed.
An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission ruled that Borrie – who worked in Northumbria Police’s professional standards department – should receive an official warning.
Criminal charges were allegedly considered over married Borrie’s actions towards the woman, which happened in 2002 when he was 44 and she was in her 20s. But Borrie, who has now retired, never faced court.
The reason the woman was considered vulnerable at the time cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.
The latest bombshell to rock the force emerged from the wrongful dismissal tribunal case brought by former head of legal services Denise Aubrey, 54. She was fired for allegedly disclosing confidential details of sexual affairs among highranking officers, which she denies.
In her evidence to the hearing in North Shields, she said Borrie groped the woman in an office. Another time, he allegedly took her for a drink at a pub in the afternoon and then pressurised her into a sex act.
Ms Aubrey said the woman later became aware of previous domestic violence accusations against her boyfriend. Borrie allegedly offered to find out more and used the fact that he had this information to get her into his car and again pressurise her into a sex act.
Ms Aubrey said: “She told female colleagues what happened and there was an external investigation.” The tribunal has heard claims that then Chief Constable Craik had an affair with his Assistant Chief Constable Carolyn Peacock and was punched by her husband, Chief Superintendent Jim Peacock. Also, Assistant Chief Constable Greg Vant allegedly had a fling with Mr Craik’s secretary Juliet Bains. The tribunal continues.