Isle of Wight Police officer Jason Taylor took advantage of a vulnerable woman to have sex with her just 6 weeks after the birth of his son after complaining his love life was ‘thin on the ground’, a misconduct hearing was told today (Monday).
PC Taylor moaned to his alleged victim that he ‘wasn’t getting any’ while she was helping him with the investigation into her boyfriend’s death, a panel was told.
The disciplinary hearing was told that the then 22-year-old first offered the ‘distraught’ woman – identified only as Ms X – a hug to comfort her but used that as a pretext to ‘nuzzle’ and kiss her neck. Later she was sat in an armchair and he undid his trousers and ‘quickly’ had sex with her, it was alleged.
Now, married father PC Taylor has been hauled in front of a misconduct panel to answer for the allegation of inappropriate sexual contact dating back 20 years. The hearing at Eastleigh was told that the alleged incident took place in October 2004.
Ms X’s boyfriend had died of a suspected heroin overdose in Portsmouth and she accompanied the officer during a search of his house. The panel heard they began searching the home during which time she became ‘really distraught’ and PC Taylor offered her a hug.
In his case summary, barrister Matthew Holdcroft, representing Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, said PC Taylor ‘took advantage’ of Ms X and that she was ‘numb’ during the search of the house.
He wrote:
“At one point, in the front room of the address the officer offered her a hug, she accepted this offer and initially appreciated it.
Article continues below this advertisement “However, she became uncomfortable when the officer started kissing and nuzzling her neck, he then sat her down in an armchair, he then asked her, ‘Are there any condoms in the house?’ She replied, ‘No.’
“The officer told her about his personal life. He told her that he had a six-week old son, he wasn’t getting ‘any’, and that it was ‘a bit thin on the ground’.
“They began to look around the house again, Ms X felt overwhelmed, she broke down in tears, she was numb and felt like a zombie.
“She sat on two-seater armchair at the foot of the stairs in the front room, the officer undid his trousers but did not take them off.
“The Officer took advantage of her vulnerability and had sex with her, there was no foreplay, and he quickly inserted his penis into Ms X’s vagina before pulling it out.”
After the incident, the pair went to her boyfriend’s parents home to inform them of his death.
Ms X said she had come forward now after seeing news reports about police wrongdoing in the past few years. She said she tried to ‘block out’ the encounter and that her memory of it was ‘fuzzy’.
In a video interview from last year, shown to the panel, Ms X said:
“We had to search the house, under the rugs and in cupboards we found empty vodka bottles, needles, I was really distraught.
“PC Taylor offered me a hug, then he started kissing my neck, he then asked if there were any condoms in the house, he then told me about his six week old son and told me he wasn’t getting any.
“We went around the house then I had a massive breakdown and was crying, I know a sexual encounter then happened but I have no recollection.
“Who the fuck has sex with someone whose boyfriend just died, it has been a massive weight in my life, I know it happened because I told my best friend.
“I had just seen my partner covered in needles and resuscitation pads, how I felt was vulnerable and the fact I can’t remember the encounter itself freaks me out.”
She continued:
“I was so vulnerable, it has eaten at me for years that somebody could do that to someone, even nuzzling someone’s neck, as a police officer that is not appropriate.
“I will never forgive that bloke for what he did to his family, it was disgusting and he brought me into it.
“It was at the bottom of the stairs in an armchair to the left and that is where it goes fuzzy, I remember him undoing his trousers.
“I do not think in my heart of hearts I was in any sound mind to do that. I have blocked it out.
“I have watched the news recently, all these police officers doing wrong and I thought why have I kept it in, this man is alive, living with his family, working.”
In interviews the police officer – who now works on the Isle of Wight – said he had hugged Ms X but denied doing anything further.
PC Taylor also faces 2 other allegations of abusing his position to make contact with members of the public to seek a personal relationship with them.
The hearing, which is expected to last a week, continues.
