“You knew she was vulnerable and had mental health problems.” Judged

Urmston police sergeant Peter Jee jailed for having sex with vulnerable Rochdale woman with mental health problems

Don Frame

May 08, 2012

A police officer with a brilliant career ahead of him has been jailed for two years for engaging in a sex act with a vulnerable woman he knew had mental health difficulties.

Peter Jee, 38, who was a sergeant with Greater Manchester Police at the time, had been one of three officers who responded to a 999 call from the woman who was threatening to take her own life.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told that she was in a confused state after taking a combination of drink and medication and in fact wanted police to act as a taxi service to take her home.

Having satisfied themselves that she was in no danger, the officers left the house in Rochdale.

Minutes later, when he was sure his two colleagues had driven off in a police van, Jee who had been on his own in a patrol car, returned.

The court was told that he later blatantly lied about what had happened, at first denying that he had even gone back to the house, and later claiming his victim had “come on” to him.

He was caught out after making what he thought had been discreet admissions to three police colleagues – and from DNA taken from semen found at the scene.

The court heard after the woman made an official complaint that Jee – who was one of the top three per cent in the country in his Sergeant’s exams – used police computer equipment to see how close he was to being arrested.

Jailing him, judge Timothy Mort told him: “You knew she was vulnerable and had mental health problems.

“You went to this address as a serving police officer in uniform, with a very high degree of trust placed in you.

“You abused that trust to take advantage of her vulnerability to satisfy your own sexual needs, and you realised that you might be able to get away with it because of your position.”

“It is far too serious an offence to do anything other than impose immediate custody. There is also a serious knock-on effect for police colleagues, as it undermines their standing within the community.”

Jee, of Bents Lane, Urmston, had been arrested following the incident in August 2010 on suspicion of rape, but the Crown later accepted a guilty plea to a charge of misconduct in public office.

Mark Ainsworth, prosecuting, said the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been alone downstairs at a friend’s address when she made the 999 call which brought police to the door.

The woman is described as having a bi-polar illness, which can make her appear at times elated, or in a low mood. Alcohol complicated her symptoms.

When officers arrived she was drunk, was slurring her words, and couldn’t walk without stumbling.

Mr Ainsworth said that when Jee returned alone to the house, he got the woman to perform a sex act on him, and he fondled her breasts.

He later claimed that having left the house with his colleagues, he had decided to drive past to make sure everything was all right, and had been flagged down by the woman who was standing at the front door.

He told one colleague she had initiated the sex act while he was chatting to another officer on his radio.

When asked why she had not made an immediate complaint, his victim said: “Who would have believed me?”

Jee, who is married with children,later sent a text message to a colleague saying: “I’m going to resign. I’ve f ****d up. It’s all my fault.”

His victim said in a statement to police that the incident had had a significant impact on her life, she suffered panic attacks, and she could no longer trust police officers.

Michael Lavery defending, said his client’s greatest shame had been to have been arrested in front of his family.

His main concern now, was the impact on his children, and the knowledge that they would one day discover why he had had to resign from the police force was like a “ticking time bomb” to him.

Sentencing Jee, judge Mort told him: “It is quite possible that this lady may well have been sexually disinhibited at the time, and instigated what happened.

“What possessed you to go back to the address I just don’t know. You knew there were problems, and it should have been a clear red traffic light.”

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, said: “The overwhelming majority of GMP staff work to the highest levels helping and supporting members of our community, often making personal sacrifices to do so.

“They do this because they care passionately about protecting people.

“Sadly, Jee’s inexcusable actions let everyone down: those that we protect and those that work selflessly to deliver policing across Greater Manchester.

“I want to reassure everyone that we do not and will not tolerate such behaviour.

“The sentence given sends out a clear message that society expects the highest standards from those who have a duty to protect them.”

Copy: Don Frame Manchester Evening News: LINK: https://www.manchesterusersnetwork.org.uk/wp-admin/post.php?post=3169&action=edit&message=10