A former police officer who bombarded a 14-year-old rape victim with inappropriate drunken messages has been jailed for 18 months.
Former Detective Constable John Hamilton, 55, sent the vulnerable girl late-night voice messages and offered to take her on a drive near where her abuser had taken her.
On Friday he was jailed at Teesside Crown Court after being found guilty of misconduct in a public office.
Judge Francis Laird KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said Hamilton had breached the trust placed in him by a “highly vulnerable” teenager who “had turned to the police for help”.
Hamilton had a 25-year policing career, starting with the Metropolitan Police before transferring to the Northumbria force in 2019.
The court heard that when he was assigned to the 14-year-old girl’s case in September 2021, he was “at a particularly low ebb” and was turning to excessive drinking after separating from his partner.
He was working with the child and adult protection safeguarding department, and was asked to investigate a historical allegation of rape.
The court heard that Hamilton “developed an unhealthy and entirely inappropriate interest” in the victim and started to send her “increasingly inappropriate messages with increasing frequency”.
The judge said the messages were “over-friendly but not overtly sexual”.
After a weekend when the girl had left her home, he made an unannounced visit to her school, and her head of year said Hamilton made her feel “unwelcome to remain in the room” with them, despite the girl indicating she wished her to stay.
That afternoon he messaged the girl saying it had been good to talk to her and asked if she would like to go for a drive to a place near where her abuser had taken her.
Hamilton sent the girl “increasingly inappropriate” messages through the night and into the early hours of the morning despite her making it clear she wanted to go to bed.
He also sent two voice notes revealing he was heavily intoxicated, the court heard.
The next day Hamilton tried to “undo the damage” by sending her a series of lighthearted messages, but she reported what had happened at school.
The girl’s head of year said the girl was “visibly upset and saying she didn’t want to go on this drive”.
In mitigation, the court heard Hamilton’s messages were “pestering” but not “sexual, threatening or obscene”.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) started a criminal investigation into Hamilton in November 2021 after a referral from Northumbria Police.
He was suspended by the force and arrested by the IOPC later that month.
The IOPC said it concluded its investigation in February 2023 and referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Hamilton was charged in August 2024 and went on trial in February this year.
He will face a gross misconduct hearing after his conviction.
IOPC director Emily Barry said: “DC Hamilton was an experienced police officer with over 24 years of service so he knew perfectly well the standards of professional behaviour expected of him, whether on or off duty.
“The seriousness of his actions were exacerbated by the fact he worked in a safeguarding team and was meant to be protecting a 14-year-old girl who was in an extremely vulnerable position as a victim of crime.
“Police officers are made fully aware from the outset of their responsibilities with how they deal with members of the public they meet through their professional duties. Hamilton completely abused his position of trust and has rightfully been held accountable for his actions.”
Detective Superintendent Donna Rose, from Northumbria Police’s Professional Standards Department, said: “Firstly, we want to recognise the bravery of the victim in this case in coming forward.
“When concerns were raised in relation to this individual he was suspended from duty.
“The case was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) who conducted an investigation, during the course of which he retired.
“His actions were completely unacceptable and are in no way representative of the overwhelming majority of officers, staff and volunteers at Northumbria Police who come to work to make a positive difference to people’s lives.
“As a force, we have made it very clear that when someone falls below the standards expected and which they made a commitment to uphold we will take appropriate action.
“We can confirm, following his conviction, misconduct proceedings are also being progressed.”
