Police officer dismissed for sending messages to 14-year-old girl
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A police officer has been dismissed without notice after he sent sexual messages to a vulnerable 14-year-old girl he met on the job. Northamptonshire Police constable Matthew Hunt acted with "predatory sexual intent" towards the girl, sending her messages that referenced sexual activity, according to a misconduct panel into his behaviour.
The week of messaging was only discovered when the girl's school became aware of an apparent plan to meet for "something to eat", according to the panel. The officer "would have sought face-to-face contact" with the girl, named as Child A, said the panel.
"This is a case of a police officer involved in child sexual exploitation, intended, I find, to lead to sexual abuse," said Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police, Ivan Balhatchet, who chaired the panel. "This is premeditated, planned, targeted, and involves deliberate or predatory steps," he said.
Read more from Sky News:Elon Musk accused of censoring right-wing X accountsItalian journalist detained by Iranian policeTwo sailors die on separate yachts during race. Hunt sought to move communication to private channels "to reduce the chances of being caught", said Mr Balhatchet.
"As the chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, I am appalled. This officer is a disgrace to the force and the wider police service," he added. Follow our channel and never miss an update. Hunt was found to have committed gross misconduct. He previously admitted his actions, that they amounted to gross misconduct by discreditable conduct, and had offered his resignation.
