DERBYSHIRE POLICE FAILINGS LEAD TO RAPE CONVICTION OF OFFENDER
A man named Craig Hutsby, from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, was involved in a serious criminal case concerning sexual assault.He had raped a woman after she had repeatedly reported him for threatening behavior and breaching bail conditions in July 2014.
According to a report, the assault could have been prevented had police officers filled out arrest forms properly and acted promptly.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigated and found that misconduct by Derbyshire Police officers played a significant role in the incident.
Specifically, PC Sofi Essex did not create an arrest package before attempting to arrest Hutsby, which caused a delay in arresting him before he committed the rape; as she eventually completed the paperwork, but too late.
Additionally, PC Joseph Lovelock failed to properly document the victim’s report, leading to her not being classified as at high risk of harm, which meant appropriate protective measures were not taken.
The investigation revealed that the police officers attended misconduct meetings in December 2015, where PC Essex received a written warning and PC Lovelock was given management advice.
Both officers were placed on performance improvement plans.
The police call handlers involved also received extra training after the failures to communicate bail conditions effectively.
Hutsby was convicted of rape in February 2015, and sentenced to nine years and five months in prison.
He was also served with a Protection from Harassment Order and will be registered as a sex offender for life, reflecting the severity of his crime and the need for ongoing supervision.
