A police constable was today warned to expect a jail sentence after being convicted of misconduct in public office and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
A jury took just two hours 20 minutes to unanimously find Simon Rose guilty of the two offences following a nine day trial
They had heard how the Greater Manchester Police officer had a secret sexual relationship with an alleged rape victim after calling round to investigate her claims.
He kept their close relationship quiet and when, by coincidence, a search warrant was later issued for her home he tried to dissuade his colleagues from searching for evidence.
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Judge David Swinnerton told 48-year-old Rose, who seemed shocked at the verdicts, “This will be met with a prison sentence because we have to have trust in our police officers and where they breach that trust prison will follow.”
Liverpool Crown Court had heard how Rose, of Burnside, Parbold, West Lancashire, joined the GMP in 2007 and was attached to the Salford division and was “a highly respected, outgoing police officer.”
Vanessa Thomson, prosecuting, said he met the woman in May 2012 in his role as a specially trained officer involved in dealing with rape and sexual assault allegations and taking a first report from a complainant.
She alleged she had been raped after being taken away in a vehicle by two men though the case later did not proceed.
Ms Thompson continued: “The relationship endured for a number of years and was hidden from his colleagues until October 2019 when her name came under the spotlight in respect of a lawful execution of a search warrant at her home."
After the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) became involved she was interviewed by them in January 2020 and she told how their relationship became sexual a few months after their first meeting and she said she had sex with him on three or four occasions.
She also said that prior to that they had exchanged sexual message and spoken about their sexual fantasies and she sent him explicit photographs of herself.
During her IOPC interview the woman said she had had “strong feelings for PC Rose a number of years ago and that he had discussed them being together even though he had a partner.”
When she embarked on a new relationship her relationship with Rose turned to close friendship.
Miss Thomson said that by 2019 Rose was based at Swinton police station and his role included executing search warrants.
When a colleague told Rose about the address he said it must be incorrect and said he knew her as she had previously been involved in a relationship with a PCSO.
One of the addresses involved the woman’s home, though there was no suggestion she was involved in criminality.
Over three days Rose spoke to his colleague again about the warrant asking him to “be decent with her”.
On October 3 he went with the two colleagues to execute the search warrant and en route he told PC Daniel Caldcleugh that he actually knew the woman when she had been the victim of criminal damage and assisted with her PCSO role and had “remained on friendly terms with her. He said the friendship could have been regarded as ‘flirty’ but it was never sexual.”
He admitted he had spoken to her that morning even though he knew about the warrant plans. As they got nearer he said he was worried something would be recovered from her home which would get him sacked, said Miss Thomson.
“The closer they got to the address the more anxious Simon Rose became, culminating in him asking PC Caldcleugh to ‘avoid looking to find evidence at the address and to overlook any evidence that might be found’.”
Rose was displaying erratic behaviour and was told to stay away from the house and it was decided to abandon the warrant as there were now only two officers available to execute it. Back in the van Rose asked them to keep the revelations between the three of them.
In his interviews with the IOPC Rose denied having had a sexual relationship with the woman and said he did not regard their relationship as close friends.
He accepted he had handled the warrant badly and said he had “buried his head in the sand” regarding the link between the woman and the property. He denied trying to influence his colleagues to ignore evidence and claims his words had been misinterpreted.
Rose was released on bail to await sentence on April 4, meanwhile a psychiatric report is to be prepared.
GMP Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said: "It is imperative that police officers are held accountable for their actions.
"We treat allegations of misconduct with the utmost seriousness and, whilst this investigation has been led by the IOPC, we have supported investigators fully.
"I am deeply disappointed by this officer's conduct and, now the trial has concluded, misconduct proceedings will commence.
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