MARK CRANFIELD FROM LUDLOW SENTENCED FOR MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE IN WEST MERCIA

A former police officer based in Ludlow, Mark Cranfield, has been handed an eight-month prison sentence after being found guilty of misconduct in public office. Cranfield, who served as a police constable with West Mercia Police, faced charges that included two counts of misconduct and a separate offence related to computer misuse. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Cranfield’s inappropriate conduct towards a female victim involved in a revenge porn case.

It was established that Cranfield engaged in harassing and inappropriate behavior, which included sending her messages via social media platforms and storing intimate videos of her on his work-issued mobile phone. During the trial, evidence was presented showing that Cranfield had communicated with the woman through social media, discussing personal aspects of his sex life. The victim, described as highly vulnerable, was subjected to unwelcome attention from Cranfield, who made his attraction to her obvious during her interactions with the police force. One particularly lewd comment he made was, “I’m glad I got to see the pictures.”

Further evidence uncovered by prosecutors included two photographs of the woman stored on Cranfield’s phone, along with a video depicting her stripping and engaging in sexual acts. The court heard that Cranfield had forwarded these explicit images and videos to an untraceable WhatsApp account, which significantly compounded the emotional distress experienced by the victim. This breach of trust was so severe that it contributed to her decision to withdraw her complaint about the incident.

Judge Kerry Maylin described Cranfield’s actions as a “grave betrayal” of the woman’s trust, emphasizing the seriousness of his misconduct. Despite Cranfield’s expressions of remorse, the court decided that his sentence should not be suspended, underscoring the gravity of his breach of professional ethics and the emotional harm inflicted upon the victim. Cranfield, who also held a role as a royal protection officer, maintained that he had no sexual interest in the woman and believed he had deleted the videos from his phone. He claimed that his initial contact with her was purely to discuss routine issues, as his wife had wrongly suspected him of infidelity.

During the proceedings, Cranfield’s defense portrayed him as a dedicated family man who was working part-time at Tesco, stacking shelves to supplement his income. He was also cleared of a third misconduct charge related to a social media friend request. The judge highlighted that Cranfield’s career had once been exemplary but was marred by his misconduct, which represented a significant breach of trust and professionalism expected from someone in public service. The court’s decision reflects the importance of maintaining integrity and trust within law enforcement roles, especially when dealing with vulnerable individuals.