Police officer had sex with 'kidnap victim' at her house, court hears

A police officer had sex with a crime victim when visiting her home during the Covid lockdown, a court heard.

PC Declan Middleton, 33, had earlier grabbed her bum when she was wearing hot pants and he was in uniform and said 'nice arse' as he followed her up the stairs.

He also struck up inappropriate and sexualised relationships with two other female victims of domestic violence, a jury was told.

The court heard he was given the nickname 'PC 90 degrees' - because he was not straight.

Middleton, of Keighley, is now no longer an officer with West Yorkshire Police, but at the time of the allegations he was a member of the domestic violence response team, based at Eccleshill Police Station, Bradford.

He denies three counts of misconduct in public office between May 2020 and October 2021.

Prosecutor Kitty Colley told Leeds Crown Court that when Middleton investigated crimes against the three complainants 'he took advantage of them all and the trusted position he was in'.

Miss Colley told the jury that the three alleged victims were not known to each other.

'The commonality between the three women is that they were all vulnerable,' said Miss Colley.

The trial heard the first woman contacted West Yorkshire Police in May 2020 during the Covid lockdown. She reported that she had been kidnapped and assaulted by her ex partner.

She suffered from anxiety, depression and was bipolar. She had been in an abusive relationship and in her own words had 'not been in the right frame of mind at the time'.

Middleton was tasked with visiting her at her Keighley home to obtain a statement and photograph her injuries.

Miss Colley reminded the jurors how warm the first lockdown had been. When Middleton arrived in uniform, the complainant, who was then aged 28, was in the garden wearing hot pants and a crop top.

'He flirted with her and asked to use the bathroom,' said Miss Colley.

As she led him up the stairs he grabbed her bottom and said 'nice arse'.

Afterwards he gave her his personal mobile number and asked her to WhatsApp photos of her injuries.

The two remained in regular contact after the initial meeting and he organised to visit her home a few days later whilst on duty.

The jury heard he arrived wearing shorts, a T-shirt and Timberland boots.

He suggested they went upstairs, where they had consensual sex. He wore a condom.

He asked her to keep their relationship a secret, texting 'don't say owt love. Strictly none work related'.

But she did message friends at the time, stating 'I have just s****** a copper'.

Miss Colley said: 'He was given the nickname PC 90 degrees because he was not quite the straight line.'

His messages were extremely sexual and he messaged that he wanted to have sex with her again.

He arrived at her home in uniform after she 'led him on', the court heard. She left via the back door and was driven away in a friend's car.

She later stated: 'I thought "this is not right. It's not appropriate".'

Middleton was in contact with the second woman in July 2020 when she reported her abusive ex partner contacting her.

He visited her at her home, where she was upset and crying.

Miss Colley said: 'She felt he [Middleton] was very familiar and she felt she was on a date, how he asked her about her life.'

He gave her his personal mobile number.

'She was clearly flattered by his attention,' said Miss Colley.

They were to exchange around 400 messages. He sent images of himself. And she sent an image of herself lying down, wearing just a thong, and showing the tattoo on her right thigh.

Middleton remarked: 'That's an absolute cracking photo by the way.'

The third complaint contacted the police in September 2020, at the same time as Middleton was continuing to be in touch with the second woman.

She was alleging domestic violence against her ex partner.

Middleton decided to meet when he was off duty. He met her in Bingley. He was out of uniform but told her he was a plain clothes officer. He got in her car.

'She believed he was on duty,' said Miss Colley.

Again her gave her his personal number and he also sent messages of a sexualised nature.

Middleton had closed the case against her at an early stage, but did not inform her. She believed he was stalling the investigation because she would not sleep with him.

Middleton gave a 'no comment' interview on his arrest.

The trial continues.