Shamed cop faces sack over 9-month campaign of abuse
Cyber-crime expert admits sustained harassment after relationship ends
A police officer faces the sack after admitting a nine-month campaign of coercive, controlling behaviour and harassment against a colleague.
Andrew Caulfield, 47, carried out a sustained course of domestic abuse against his 35-year-old PC ex when she ended thei r relationship.
The cyber- crime specialist ignored her pleas to leave her alone and refused to take no for an answer by sending emails and messages and putting cards through her letterbox.
He also defied a court order to stay away from her after he was initially arrested and appeared in the dock at Dundee Sheriff Court. Caul f ield, who has been a Dundee-based officer for many years, appeared in court again last week and changed his plea to guilty to both charges.
He now faces being sacked from Police Scotland.
The disgraced off icer had original ly faced a charge of abusing his victim for two years including striking her with a door, grabbing her and trying to pull her off a bed.
After discussions with the Crown, his guilty plea to a reduced charge covering a shorter period of time was accepted ahead of his scheduled trial date. Caulfield, from Dundee, admitted “acting in a coercive and controlling manner” towards the woman and engaging in the course of abusive behaviour towards her, while she was his partner or expartner, between July 12, 2020 and April 7, 2021. Caulfield admitted a lengthy charge and accepted he had refused to accept the relationship was at an end, and repeatedly phoning, texting and emailing her despite her telling
him she wanted no contact.contact He repeatedly turned up at her home uninvited and placed a number of cards and letters through her letterbox.
He also admitted warning one of her friends to stop contacting her and accepted he had an unwanted card delivered to her home in the city.
The officer also pled guilty to a second charge of breaching a court bail order which had been imposed at Dundee Sheriff Court on July 14, 2020.
He admitted ignoring a court order for more than two months by failing to comply with a condition to stay away from the victim between August 29 and November 12, 2020.
The court was told last week that he had repeatedly contacted the woman by phone and instant message and had met her on a number of occasions.
Incidents relating to six other locations in Meigle, Perthshire, and Dundee, were removed from the charge.
It was originally alleged the abuse began on June 1, 2019.
Caulfield was cleared of leaving a set of keys to his home on his victim’s car and repeatedly having flowers and cards delivered to her property.
He was also cleared of causing
a door to strike her on the body, acting in an aggressive manner towards her, shouting at her, and grabbing her by the body and trying to pull her off a bed.
Caulfield was also cleared of repeatedly following her and threatening to harm himself.
The Crown have asked for a non-harassment order to be imposed to prevent Caulf ield having any contact with his former partner. Sentence was deferred for social work reports and a restriction of l ib e r t y o r de r assessment.
A Pol ice Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of the outcome of the case and a report wi l l be made to the Assistant Chief Constable for Professionalism and Assurance for consideration of conduct proceedings.
“Police Scotland fully investigates all reports of violence against women and girls irrespective of who the perpetrator is.
“We a re commi t t ed to continuing to work with our partners and support the right of women and girls to feel safe.
“We continue to review and refresh our strategy to tackle violence against women and girls in Scotland.”
He failed to comply with a condition to stay away from her