PC jailed over relationship with domestic abuse victim
A POLICE officer who engaged in a ‘flirtatious and sexualised’ relationship with a domestic abuse victim has been jailed.
James Ankrett swapped ‘provocative’ selfies with the woman after he was seen being overly familiar with her while responding to a 999 call.
The 40-year-old was seen holding the crying woman’s hand and stroking her knee when at her home. He also gave her his personal phone number. ‘He was interested in a sexual relationship before he left the incident,’ said prosecutor Andrew Wallace. He later sent the woman texts, complimenting her on her breasts and saying he wanted to ‘sleep with her all night’, the court heard. Days after the emergency call, Ankrett returned to the home in uniform and kissed the woman.
He admitted to corrupt or other improper exercise of police powers last month. His lawyer Sharon Bahia said: ‘ He acknowledges this criminal behaviour. There was a breach of trust.
‘This is a one-off offence that happened when his self-esteem was low.
‘He has undertaken counselling to have insight into the way he behaved. He lost his guard at the moment he was at his lowest.’
But Judge Christopher Millington QC said the officer, of Hednesford, Staffordshire, had clearly pursued a relationship with the woman in July 2017 when she was in a ‘ distressed and vulnerable state’.
Sentencing him to five months’ jail, he added: ‘The public must see appropriate punishment for those who fail to live up to standards of a police officer.’
Ankrett, who had served as a front-line officer with West Midlands Police for 20 years, was sacked by the force following a misconduct hearing held last week.
Speaking after the case at Wolverhampton crown court, Ch Con David Thompson said the officer’s actions were an ‘abhorrence’.
‘Public trust is undermined when officers behave as this officer has. Officers like this have no place in West Midlands Police,’ he added.
‘They damage our standing and professional reputation. We will root them out and not only dismiss them but actively seek prosecutions when criminal laws have been broken.’