A respected police constable who served with the Greater Manchester Police for five years has been sent to jail. Simon Rose, 48, was sentenced to three years in jail by the Liverpool Crown Court Tuesday, in a case involving an inappropriate relationship he had with a female rape victim, whose case he was investigating in May 2012.
According to the BBC, Rose’s relationship with the woman began when he came into contact with her through his job as a specially trained officer who deals with victims of rape and sexual assault cases. He was found guilty by the Liverpool Crown Court, as Judge David Swinnerton told the officer how he had let down his colleagues and the general public for breaching trust and the entitlement of police officers on the job. Rose was part of the Salford division of GMP and was considered a highly respected officer.
“It is wholly unacceptable if one of those factors might be them subsequently being targeted by a predatory police officer," the judge said.
The secret relationship between the officer and the victim endured a good seven years until the victim’s name came under the spotlight on a search warrant of her home. Rose told his fellow officers to ignore any evidence they may find at the woman’s residence, leading the officers to abandon the warrant but subsequently interviewed the woman who revealed their ongoing affair. She confessed to having sex with Rose on three or four occasions.
The woman also admitted that she developed strong feelings for Rose and that she had discussions with him about being together even though he was involved with another partner. When the victim met someone else, she maintained a close friendship with Rose that lasted for several years. In the victim’s impact statement she described how their relationship had turned into something more close and emotional after their initial sexual encounters. However, when Rose suddenly ended all contact she felt used and upset.
Prosecutor Vanessa Thompson said the victim alleged she was raped at knifepoint by two men who took her away in a vehicle although the said case did not proceed. During the sentencing, Swinnerton laid it heavy on Rose, “You took advantage of a vulnerable victim by forming a sexual relationship with her.”
The nine-day trial of Rose in January resulted in a conviction of misconduct in public office and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Apart from losing his job, Rose also lost his relationship with his partner.
