FORMER POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN JAILED AFTER ADMITTING COERCIVE AND CONTROLLING BEHAVIOUR
A former police officer has been jailed after admitting coercive and controlling behaviour towards a woman.Michael Harvey, aged 64, entered a guilty plea to controlling and coercive behaviour directed at the victim over the period from December 2015 to July 2016.
At the time of the offenses, Harvey was serving as a detective within Lancashire Police’s Sexual Offenders Management Unit before retiring in 2018.
He also previously admitted to unauthorised access to police computer systems.
This earlier offense involved Harvey accessing police databases in June 2012 without any lawful reason, after they met by chance at an Asda store in Rawtenstall.
He used her vehicle registration to gather further details about her.
In March 2013, Harvey also accessed police systems without proper authorization to obtain her landline number.
Their initial chance encounter was in May 2012, and they met again at the same store in October, where Harvey approached her in the parking lot.
During a brief exchange, he revealed he was a police officer.
She provided him with her mobile number, and later agreed to a date.
Concerns about Harvey grew when he expressed a desire for her not to post photos of him on social media.
By 2013 or 2014, he hadn’t introduced her to family or friends.
In 2014, Harvey stayed at her home for a week, and shortly after leaving, he returned, claiming he had lost his rented accommodation and needed to stay with her.
Her worries about his behaviour intensified, but he often used claims of health and mental health issues to manipulate her, saying he was off sick, undergoing counselling for PTSD, and facing financial difficulties.
Whenever she suggested ending the relationship or asked him to leave, Harvey would threaten self-harm, saying he might take his own life.
In 2015, after she confronted him about texting other women and flirting, he said he was supporting victims of crime.
He later contacted her at work, hinting he would kill himself if she ended the relationship.
The victim reported these incidents to police in July 2022.
Harvey was subsequently arrested at his home in Eskdale, Skelmersdale, in October 2023.
He had previously pleaded guilty to the coercive controlling behaviour charge and was acquitted of three rape charges after a trial last year.
Today, February 5th, he appeared at Preston Sessions House, where he was sentenced to 30 months in prison and received a ten-year restraining order.
