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A police officer who began a sexual relationship with a domestic abuse victim he had interviewed has been convicted of misconduct in a public office.

Declan Middleton, who later resigned from West Yorkshire Police, also sent "inappropriate" messages to two other women he met during the course of his duties.

The former PC, 33, was found guilty on two charges at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday and will be sentenced on 22 November.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said Middleton's "predatory behaviour" was unacceptable and risked undermining public confidence in the police.

'Abused his position'

The court heard Middleton, of Larkfield Terrace, Keighley, visited the woman’s home in May 2020 during the initial Covid lockdown to get a statement after a domestic abuse incident and gave her his personal phone number.

Two days later the then-PC returned in plain clothes and they had consensual sex.

He continued to send messages of a sexual nature and went back to her house on more than one occasion, the court heard.

After the woman tried to distance herself from him, he asked her not to tell anyone about their relationship.

An IOPC investigation commenced in January 2021 after a complaint and evidence showed that Middleton "abused his position as a police officer".

After he was arrested, data from his phone showed he had been sending messages to two other women, in a "disturbing pattern of behaviour", according to the IOPC.

'Discreditable conduct'

A force disciplinary hearing in December found Middleton had breached the police professional standards of "discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity, orders and instructions, ethics and authority, respect and courtesy".

A panel ruled he would have been dismissed without notice had he had not already resigned.

Middleton was also been placed on the barred list, meaning he cannot work for the police service in the future.

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