West Midlands Police officer jailed for inappropriate relationship with abuse victim

James Ankrett 'deliberately' handed over his personal mobile phone number to the victim during a call-out to her home. Credit: BPM Media

A former West Midlands Police officer has been jailed for engaging in a relationship with a vulnerable woman during the course of his duties.

James Ankrett admitted corrupt or other improper exercise of police powers after he formed an inappropriate relationship with the woman in July 2017.

He was charged in 2019 following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

He was sentenced to five months in prison on Monday (October 18) at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Wolverhampton Crown Court Credit: BPM Media

The former force response officer from Hednesford was previously restricted from duties and worked in a non-public facing role following the report, while the investigation was carried out. 

He was suspended from duty after admitting the offence at court on September 14 and was dismissed without notice a month later.

The 40-year-old was on duty with West Midlands Police when he 'deliberately' handed over his personal mobile phone number to the victim during a call-out to her home.Herjinder Singh, solicitor at West Midlands Police, said Ankrett's behaviour was a 'clear breach' of police protocols.Speaking at the misconduct hearing, he said: "We say that [culpability] ranked high. It was especially serious because it resulted in a criminal conviction for a serious offence."It was the officer who made a deliberate decision to give his personal mobile phone to a member of the public."The communication very quickly became flirtatious and sexualised."There are various aggravating factors in this case. His intention was sexual gratification. It amounts to a serious abuse of his position as a police officer."

Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “This behaviour is a matter of deep public concern at this time. The issue of Violence Against Women and Girls requires the police to act as champions for the fair treatment of women. Public trust is undermined when officers behave as this officer has.”

He added: "Officers like this have no place in West Midlands Police. They are an abhorrence to the men and women who make up this organisation who go out day in day out to protect the most vulnerable. 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."