SIMON MILLER SCUNTHORPE POLICE OFFICER ABUSES TRUST IN HULL AND SCUNTHORPE

A former police officer from Humberside, Simon Miller, has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after engaging in a sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman, an act that represented a gross breach of the trust placed in him as a law enforcement official. The incident took place in Scunthorpe, where Miller was based at the time, and the court proceedings revealed disturbing details about his misconduct.

According to court reports, Miller, aged 54, was supposed to be assisting the woman as part of his official duties. Instead, he exploited his position by initiating a sexual relationship with her, a woman described as being in a fragile mental state. The court heard that Miller sent her a message that appeared to threaten her with disbelief if she chose to disclose what had transpired, warning her that no one would believe her if she spoke out about their encounters. This message was part of a pattern of communication that further demonstrated his manipulative behavior.

Earlier, Miller admitted to engaging in an improper sexual relationship with the woman, acknowledging that such conduct was inappropriate. His misconduct was so severe that he was immediately dismissed from the police force last year following a misconduct hearing that scrutinized his actions. The incident in question occurred during a duty shift when Miller was on duty during an incident in Scunthorpe, where he met the woman.

During the court proceedings, defense barrister Alex Menary detailed the nature of the communications between Miller and the woman. These included messages sent from Miller’s phone and Snapchat, with records showing exchanges that the woman had screenshot. Mr. Menary explained that Miller had gone to check on the woman and subsequently took her to a refuge, where they engaged in sexual activity that same day. Miller arrived in a marked police vehicle to pick her up, and they spent time together at the refuge between 2 and 3 pm, during which the sexual encounter took place.

Following their meeting, the woman sent Miller a message at 4:37 pm saying, “Thanks,” to which he replied, “No worries.” Later, she sent another message expressing gratitude, and Miller responded again. The court was told that the woman later claimed Miller told her that if she told anyone about what had happened, they wouldn’t believe her because she was in a mental asylum. She explained that her mental health was not in a good place at the time, which made her particularly vulnerable and upset by the situation.

Further messages exchanged between the two appeared to be affectionate, but the woman later stated that her medication at the time clouded her judgment, making it difficult to recall many of the messages clearly. She expressed that she was “really hurt” by the comment about her being in an asylum, emphasizing her emotional distress. When questioned about her intentions, she denied seeking a relationship with Miller, although she admitted to being “kind” and “a little bit flirty” in subsequent messages. She also denied wanting more contact, asserting she was not pursuing a relationship but acknowledged that her messages may have appeared flirtatious.

Humberside Police issued a statement confirming that both criminal and internal investigations had been launched into Miller’s conduct following reports of inappropriate behavior. The police confirmed that Miller, based in Scunthorpe, had engaged in a sexual relationship with a vulnerable victim after meeting her during an incident in 2021. An internal misconduct hearing in August last year found that Miller had breached professional standards related to discreditable conduct. As a result, he was immediately dismissed from the force and placed on the College of Policing barred list.

Superintendent Andy Maultby, head of professional standards, condemned Miller’s actions, stating, “Miller has completely abused his position of trust and took advantage of someone when she was in need of support. His discreditable conduct and behavior didn't just breach the standards of professionalism, it was utterly condemnable and unforgivable.” He praised the victim for her courage in coming forward, which enabled the police to pursue criminal charges, remove Miller from the force, and ensure he was barred from future policing roles. Maultby emphasized the police force’s zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct and their commitment to maintaining community trust by holding offenders accountable. The case underscores the importance of integrity within law enforcement and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation by those sworn to serve and protect.