Married police officer who had affair with female junior quits force

A newly-married police officer has quit the force after he began an affair with an infatuated female junior just a year after tying the knot with his wife.

During the affair, PC Tony Eronini, who is in his 30's, was given a pair of underwear from WPC Chloe Caulfield whilst on duty, with instances of 'heavy petting' inside both the police station and a patrol car reported.

The father of two also allegedly used 'highly suggestive' code words when texting WPC Caulfield to arrange their seedy workplace encounters.

PC Eronini married his partner in September 2021 in a lavish lakeside ceremony, but by the following Christmas was already involved with WPC Caulfield, with the pair working at the same police station in the Greater Manchester area.

The investigation into the workplace romance began after WPC Caulfield's long-term partner exposed them when he found the incriminating 'highly suggestive' texts between the lovers and reported them to police bosses.

At a disciplinary hearing, Eronini and Caulfield, who is thought to be in her 20s, were both found guilty of gross misconduct and discreditable conduct.

A panel of senior officers at Greater Manchester Police said the pair had 'failed to carry out their duties and obligations to the best of their ability' due to them 'engaging in sexualized messaging and interactions whilst on duty.'

They also said the lovers were 'not 'diligent in the performance of their duties' and that the public 'do not expect police officers to engaged in sexualized messaging or sexual acts whilst on duty.'

PC Eronini originally joined the force back in October 2019 but had already resigned by January of this year, with the former officer posting on his LinkedIn page that he is 'on the lookout for a new position'.

Neither PC Eronini or WPC Caulfield took part in the disciplinary proceedings, which released a report into their findings detailing the 'emotional and sexual relationship' which amounted to 'sexual misconduct whilst on duty'.

The report went on to read; 'This conduct continued over a significant period. She was in a long-term relationship and lived with her then partner. Their property had a Ring doorbell and this meant that her ex-partner was aware of when she was and was not in the property.

'Eronini was married and lived with his wife and they have several children. Their domestic situation was such as to make infidelity at Eronini's home address almost impossible. The officers exchanged the following sexualised messaging whilst on duty. They engaged in sexualised physical contact.'

'The panel had also been provided with the details of the complaint made by the former partner of former PC Caulfield. 

'The details provided in the complaints outlined that the nature and content of the text messages found upon former PC Caulfield's phone were highly suggestive that the text messages and conduct of the former Officers had taken place in police motor vehicles and at police Stations and whilst on duty'.

The disgraced pair denied any sexual activity occurred but accepted that the explicit text messages had been exchanged whilst they had been on duty. PC Eronini also accepted 'discrediting' his wife and his job. Caulfield insisted the allegations made had not occurred but 'apologised sincerely.'

The report said the pair would have been sacked had they not resigned.

The panel concluded its report by stating; 'it was more likely than not that Caulfield and Eronini engaged in sexual activity whilst on duty. This behaviour breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.

'The conduct of both officers was intentional and deliberate and was sexually motivated. They would have been well aware that their conduct whilst on duty was unacceptable and their behaviour was inappropriate.

'Both could reasonably have foreseen the risk of harm, in particular to the reputation of the Police Service. The misconduct pursued was for sexual gratification and both officers abused their positions. They continued to text each other inappropriately after they should have realised that it was improper.'