A police officer who boasted of giving ‘good customer service’ has been jailed for having sex with a crime victim while on duty.

Emerson Estridge, 46, abused his position to target vulnerable women for his own sexual gratification, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

The West Midlands Police officer sent explicit messages to victims, offered to meet and even had sex with one while on duty.

Estridge, of Highland Road in Leamington Spa, was jailed for 18 months at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting four charges of corrupt and improper exercise of police powers and privileges.

The court heard he left the force after his crimes were exposed – which involved four women between September 2016 and November 2018.

Jennifer Josephs, prosecuting, said: ‘His victims were either witnesses or victims of crime with whom he sought contact with for his sexual gratification and who he tried to have sexual relations with.

‘The victims were vulnerable both because of their personal circumstances and the very nature of how they came into contact with the police.

‘The sexual contact was mainly instigated by the defendant. Contact was made by WhatsApp from the defendant’s personal phone.’

While sentencing him, Judge Dean Kershaw told Estridge: ‘You described giving good customer service but your behaviour was not good customer service, it was abusing your position.

‘It was akin to a sexual predator in uniform. Your aim was not to make them feel safe, your aim was sexual. It stops people putting their trust in the police.’

Estridge, who was based in Solihull, was part of a response team which responded to 999 calls from members of the public.

The court heard how he was not the investigative officer and had no reason to have further contact with the women.

His crimes began in September 2016 when a woman, aged 48, called the police to make a complaint about an aggressive ex-partner.

After attending and following normal procedures, Estridge got her phone number and started sending messages from his personal phone complimenting her looks.

She felt flattered and the messages became more sexual, talking about a swingers’ club and Estridge sent her an intimate picture of himself.

The woman had reportedly been taking medication for depression and anxiety. In a statement she said she felt like she was being ‘groomed’ and as if Estridge had been reading from a script to get her into bed.

Another victim was a woman, described as being ‘naïve’, who Estridge came into contact with after she was involved in a road crash.

He sent her text messages suggesting they should book a hotel room and talked about baby oil.

In a statement she said she felt embarrassed and described the defendant as a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’.

In April 2017, Estridge visited another woman who was having problems with her daughter.

Following text messages the officer went to her home and they had sex, although it was interrupted when he had a radio call.

Miss Josephs said they had slept together on more occasions when he was off duty, and the woman had been ’emotionally vulnerable’.

Estridge had also used the police computer system to get more information about the women and tried to cover up what he had been doing by creating a fake crime number.

He went to the home of his final victim following a neighbour dispute – then he started messaging her on WhatsApp suggesting they should meet up for a drink.

Abigail Nixon defending, said: ‘He was a good police officer, honest and reliable and a family man. He had a good work ethic.’

She said he had only had sex with one of the women and she had instigated it.

‘He should not have gone along with it. He should not have had sex while on duty,’ Ms Nixon added.

Source: Read Full Article