WEST MIDLANDS POLICE OFFICER JAILED FOR ABUSING TRUST WITH ABUSE VICTIM

A former police officer has been sentenced to five months in jail after engaging in a sexual relationship with a domestic abuse victim he encountered while on duty. James Ankrett, age 40, started seeing the woman in 2017 during his tenure with West Midlands Police. He pleaded guilty in September to the charge of corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and was sentenced on Monday at Wolverhampton Crown Court. The police force dismissed him last week, citing gross misconduct due to his abuse of trust. His former supervisor described him as an 'abhorrence.' During court proceedings, it was revealed that Ankrett was observed acting overly familiar with the woman during an emergency call she made following an incident involving her adult son. He provided her with his personal phone number, seeking personal contact at a time when she was visibly distressed and vulnerable. From July 8 to July 17 in 2017, he sent flirtatious and sexual messages and shared provocative images, which was deemed inappropriate. On two occasions, he visited her home while on duty, though these visits were not in a professional capacity. In a court statement, the victim accused him of 'preying upon' her. The investigation was conducted by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, emphasizing the severity of officers abusing their positions for sexual purposes. Following his conviction, Ankrett was suspended from duty. Local police authorities highlighted the importance of upholding integrity to maintain public trust and pledged to prosecute similar misconduct by officers in the future.