A former police officer accused of grooming a Scottish teenager and driving to her family home in order to move her to Yorkshire has been banned from the service for life.
PC Craig Jackson, 30, was stopped at the Scottish border by officers with the then-17-year-old girl in the passenger seat of his vehicle having started messaging her online when she was just 15.
A police misconduct hearing heard the girl’s family alerted authorities after discovering the relationship in 2021 – around two years after it started.
Jackson, who was serving with Humberside police in Bridlington, later resigned from the force following his arrest in June last year.
The misconduct panel in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, heard Jackson was alleged to have made frequent online and over the phone contact with the girl, as well as meeting with her one on more than one occasion between June 2019 and June 2021.
It was also alleged he invited her to live with him and drove to her family home in Scotland to collect her and was aware of her age throughout their communication.
The panel found his actions breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to “discreditable conduct” and amounted to gross misconduct.
Humberside Police’s head of professional standards, superintendent Andy Maultby, branded his actions “disgraceful,” adding he would have been “immediately dismissed” had he not already resigned from the force.
He said: “Jackson completely abused his position of trust and this is just not acceptable – he had a duty to protect young people in our society. His discreditable conduct and behaviour didn’t just breach the standards of professionalism, it was utterly condemnable and unforgivable.
“We will not condone the actions of individuals who bring the force, and policing, into disrepute, and furthermore, raise doubt and concerns about our integrity with the public.”
“We are fully committed in rooting out every single person who fails to adhere to our high levels of standards and professionalism, and we will always ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
The teenager, who has had no contact with her family for over a year, is said to have eloped with him after turning 18, the hearing heard.
Police Scotland are also now investigating a complaint against him dating from June 2021.
A spokesperson said: “Officers in Falkirk arrested a 29-year-old man on Thursday, June 10, 2021 in connection with an ongoing enquiry.
“A report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and enquiries remain ongoing.”
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