Former Ipswich police officer jailed for misconduct after a "flagrant abuse of trust"
A former Suffolk police officer has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for two counts of misconduct in public office, including attempting to engage a woman in sexually inappropriate conversations and failing to record her rape allegation.
The big picture: Ryan Althorpe, 33, from Ipswich, was found guilty after a five-day trial earlier this year:
- The offences occurred between 16 November and 3 December 2020 while Althorpe was a temporary sergeant in Woodbridge.
- He was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday 11 September.
Key details:
- Althorpe received a private disclosure via Facebook from a woman in her 30s about a non-recent rape allegation.
- He then sent explicit sexual messages to the woman and repeatedly requested video calls, phone calls and photos.
- Althorpe failed to record the woman's report of a rape that took place in November 2019.
- He was suspended in September 2021 when the allegations came to light and resigned in June 2022.
What they're saying: Deputy Chief Constable Rob Jones called it "a flagrant abuse of trust", adding: "The victim was vulnerable and quite rightly reached out for help and support. He held a position of trust that he completely exploited."
The bottom line: This case serves as a reminder of the high standards expected of police officers and the importance of properly handling reports of sexual offences.
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