CHONI KENNY FROM WYTHENSHAWE JAILED FOR BETRAYING POLICE TRUST AND SHARING INTELLIGENCE WITH CRIMINALS

A police officer from Wythenshawe who betrayed her oath by passing sensitive information to two known criminal associates has been sentenced to prison. Choni Kenny, aged 27, who became a member of Greater Manchester Police in 2020, was handed a prison term of three years and nine months during a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.

Throughout the two-day sentencing process, it was revealed that Kenny maintained a 'casual sexual relationship' with Josh Whelan, a man described by Judge Neil Flewitt KC as a 'committed criminal.' Additionally, she engaged in a 'physical but casual' relationship with Rahim Mottley, a former schoolmate. The court heard that these personal relationships were intertwined with her professional misconduct, as she used her position to share police intelligence with these individuals.

Judge Flewitt addressed Kenny directly, stating, 'You have let down not only GMP and the community it serves but also yourself, your family, and your friends.' He emphasized that her actions were not driven by financial gain or malice but were instead the result of naivety, immaturity, and a desire to maintain her friendships with Whelan and Mottley. The judge pointed out that these men exploited her willingness to disclose information that could be advantageous to their criminal endeavors.

He further remarked that Kenny must have been aware that her conduct was wrong, despite her apparent infatuation with Whelan, who was 31 years old. The court highlighted that Whelan was in possession of twenty different mobile phones while incarcerated between 2021 and 2023, and that Kenny funded the use of these devices. A significant aggravating factor was her knowledge that Whelan was involved in drug dealing, and that she was actively assisting him in supervising his illegal activities from behind bars.

The court also detailed how Kenny accessed police information and intelligence, including a victim statement related to Whelan’s alleged violence against a former partner, and shared this data with him. In November 2022, after Whelan’s release from prison, Kenny was seen with him in her BMW, visiting a Nando’s restaurant before going to her workplace, where she searched for details about prisoners released that week.

During the proceedings, Alexander Beevers, representing Whelan, commented on her character, stating, 'He is a convicted criminal. His co-defendant liked that aspect of his character, it is something which appealed to her and unfortunately she, in addition and unusually, had the status of being a police officer. She was willing to make use of that status.'

Ultimately, the court’s decision underscores the gravity of her misconduct and the breach of trust involved in her actions, which have serious implications for the integrity of law enforcement and public safety in Wythenshawe and beyond.