Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Officer James Formby Pleads Guitly to Having Sex with Woman He Was Helping

A Metropolitan Police officer has pleaded guilty to misconduct after he had sex on duty with a woman he was meant to be helping.

Pc James Formby, 31, and a colleague responded to a suspected domestic abuse incident in Bromley last September.

He stayed with the woman while a man was taken to a police station, then engaged in sexual activity with the woman, who had been drinking.

Formby, who has been suspended from the force, will be sentenced on 1 March.

'Vulnerable and scared'

The officer, based at Bromley Police station, pleaded guilty to one charge of misconduct in public office at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.

The investigation was carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) following a referral from the Met.

IPCC Commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said: "Police officers hold a unique position of trust in the eyes of the public and it is disgraceful that Pc Formby abused that trust in this case.

"He should have been supporting a woman who was vulnerable and scared but instead he exploited the situation and his behaviour was completely inappropriate."

A Met Police spokesman said Pc Formby has been suspended pending disciplinary hearings, which will take place after sentencing.

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