A former police officer who sent sexual messages and indecent pictures to teenagers on a cadet scheme has been jailed for five years.
Adnan Ali, 36, sexually assaulted three victims, aged between 15 and 18, and sent sexual messages which were “bordering on relentless” while working on the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) cadet scheme and apprenticeship programme between 2015 and 2018, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday.
Ali, who was supported by eight family members in court as he was sentenced, was convicted of 15 counts of misconduct in a public office and five sexual assaults following an earlier trial.
Your vanity meant you decided you wanted to be seen as the star of Greater Manchester Police cadet programme. Your real interest was yourself rather than the cadets, the public at large or the police force you purported to serve— Judge Denis Watson KC
Judge Denis Watson KC said Ali “deliberately ignored” guidelines for cadet schemes which included principles of respect and safeguarding.
He said: “Your vanity meant you decided you wanted to be seen as the star of Greater Manchester Police cadet programme.
“Your real interest was yourself rather than the cadets, the public at large or the police force you purported to serve.”
The court heard he “indulged in making sexual remarks” to the young people and sent messages about sexual activities, positions, preferences and partners as well as exchanging sexual photographs.
One of his victims was sexually assaulted while on a cadet camp, while other incidents took place in an office and in a car, the court heard.
The judge added: “The reputational damage you have caused to Greater Manchester Police and the police service generally and to cadet and apprentice schemes is huge.”
Ali has already been added to the College of Policing’s barred list - preventing him from serving for the rest of his life, and we are now following the process to try to ensure that he loses his valuable pension— Chief Superintendent Mike Allen
Anne Whyte KC, prosecuting, said Ali’s incentive was sexual gratification.
She said eight of the nine victims had provided statements about the impact on them.
She told the court: “The overwhelming common denominator from all of those is the scale of loss of trust in these young people for other people in authority.”
Jane Osborne KC, defending, said a number of character references, including from parents of another cadet, had been submitted to the court.
She said Ali, a father-of-one, was attacked while on duty in 2013 and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.
Ali, of Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, has been dismissed from the force and efforts are being made to ensure he is not eligible for his police pension, a spokesman for GMP said.
Head of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch, Chief Superintendent Mike Allen said: “Though Ali is now in prison thanks to the commendable bravery of the victims and integrity of those who worked with him, it is the view of Greater Manchester Police that he should never reap the benefits of having been an officer.
“He has already been added to the College of Policing’s barred list – preventing him from serving for the rest of his life, and we are now following the process to try to ensure that he loses his valuable pension.”
Greater Manchester deputy mayor Kate Green said: “This is an appalling and sickening case and I want to commend the victims and witnesses for their bravery in coming forward so justice can be done.
“Police officers are there to keep the rest of us safe, but instead of being a role model, Ali abused his position to prey on vulnerable young cadets who simply wanted to learn so they themselves could one day protect the public.
“Allowing him to collect his pension after committing these offences would be an insult to his victims. I fully support GMP’s proposals and will now make the case to the Home Office for Ali to be ordered to forfeit his pension.”
Regional director for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) Catherine Bates said: “Former Pc Ali has shown no remorse for his actions, which have had significant and lasting effects on many of the young people he was supposed to be looking after.
“His behaviour has absolutely no place in policing and I am pleased to see this sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes.
“His horrific actions were massive breach of the trust placed in him and an unforgivable abuse of his position. Instead of caring for these young people, he saw an opportunity to exploit them.
“Since concerns were first brought to our attention by GMP in October 2018, a huge amount of work has gone into ensuring Ali was held accountable for his actions. Just as importantly, this investigation has led to substantial changes being made to protect young people.”
