Former West Midlands PCSO jailed over affair with crime victim
A former West Midlands Police community support officer has been jailed after he formed a sexual relationship with a woman who had reported an attempted burglary.
The conduct of Kevin Hathaway, 38, was investigated following an anonymous tip-off over his relationship with the woman, whom he met during the course of his duties in 2018.
Hathaway resigned from the force during an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct., which began in August 2019 after a referral from West Midlands Police.
The IOPC submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in March – which decided to then charge him with one count of misconduct in public office.
Hathaway was today sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to 12 months imprisonment, having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing on November 6.
Late shifts
West Midlands Police referred the matter to the IOPC after receiving anonymous information that the former PCSO was regularly visiting a woman at her home while on late shifts, after she had initially reported an attempted burglary. Her concerns over the attempted burglary had left her with extreme anxiety.
Evidence gathered by the investigator showed there were nearly 2,300 calls and messages on his work device that were exchanged between him and the woman over a one-year period.
When he was interviewed by the IOPC investigator, he accepted that flirtatious texts had developed into a sexual relationship with the woman, when he knew that was in breach of the professional code of conduct. During the interview he apologised for what he had done.
IOPC regional director, Derrick Campbell, said: “To maintain trust, police officers and PCSOs must maintain professional boundaries with members of the public. Regrettably, Kevin Hathaway chose to abuse the position of trust he was in and has now paid a heavy price.
“I hope this sends a clear message to any officer who misconduct themselves in such a way, that they face serious consequences.”
During the investigation, the IOPC analysed the officer’s phone records and work devices, location data from the police vehicles he used, and gathered statements from a number of witnesses.
