POLICE OFFICER STALKED COLLEAGUE AND KEPT HER SHIFT PATTERNS IN HIS LOCKER
PC ACCUSED OF EIGHT-MONTH CAMPAIGN RESIGNS FROM FORCE
A HUMBERSIDE Police officer accused of peering over the wall of a colleague’s home during an eight-month campaign of stalking has resigned.
PC 0034 Ben Robinson, 32, left his role in the armed unit within specialist operations ahead of a gross misconduct hearing in Goole on Tuesday, April 6, which he did not attend. The former police officer faced four allegations that he breached the standards of professional behaviour within his duties, which includes stalking a colleague referred to as “Officer A”. From September 22, 2018, Robinson started an eight-month campaign of stalking his colleague while he was both on and off duty.
On October 20, 2018, Robinson was supposed to be on duty at Melton Police Station performing his role as a firearms Tac Advisor.
Instead, he was caught by a colleague peering over the wall of Officer A’s home while he was in police uniform and carrying a police issue firearm. Robinson was also spotted in the vicinity of Officer A’s home on six more occasions from February 2019 to April 2019, while he was on duty. His course of misconduct did not stop there though as he also faced allegations of using the Police National Computer database to obtain information on those who attended Officer A’s home from August 2018 to April 2019. Robinson checked nine vehicle registration numbers using the database to ascertain the identity of the owners, who were all known to Officer A.
During the hearing at the Old Magistrates Court in Goole, it was heard Robinson accepted all allegations put to him but rejected the allegation that his actions amounted to stalking Officer A, citing that he was only “observing”. Representing Robinson, Detective Constable Ian Spain said: “The former officer accepts the conduct alleged but not that he was stalking Officer A. “He is not denying being there, or any of the facts, he just denies that his purpose was to stalk Officer A or cause her any problems.
“His intention was not to stalk Officer A but he intended to see who was visiting her home. He did not attend outside the address but in the street. “He was observing callers and that was as far as he went. He did not intend to upset her and cause any stress and he also states this has to be seen in the context of a relationship breakdown where he was not thinking clearly.” However, Chief Constable Lee Freeman concluded there was “overwhelming evidence” that Robinson had committed acts of stalking, which not only included “loitering” at her home but also interfering with her mobile phone and monitoring her social media.
It was also heard that Robinson followed Officer A on several occasions while he was both on and off duty, repeatedly contacted her in person and on WhatsApp, and obtained copies of her shift patterns which he kept in his locker.
He said: “I am satisfied that he would or ought to have known that his behaviour amounted to harassment and I totally reject his assertions to the contrary.”
Chief Constable Freeman described Robinson’s actions as “disingenuous” and that his behaviour at times was “coercive and controlling”.
He also rejected Robinson’s suggestion that he was remorseful as instead of accepting the allegations at the time they were put to him he tried blaming Officer
A.
“Our communities have the right to expect that when an officer commits acts of misconduct that such behaviour will be challenged and dealt with,” added Chief Constable Freeman. “The only outcome appropriate would have been dismissal without notice if he was still a serving police officer.
“As a result of my decision, I determine that he should be entered on the College of Policing’s barred list.”
As a result of my decision, I
determine that he (Ben Robinson) should be entered on the College of Policing’s barred list
Chief Constable
Lee Freeman