Ex-officer jailed for sex with vulnerable woman

A former police family liaison officer has been jailed for having sex with a vulnerable woman he was assigned to support.

Forbes Scott, 58, who worked at Norfolk Police, began a relationship with his victim just weeks after her husband died in 2011.

In July last year, he pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.

The judge said Scott, of George Drive, Drayton, near Norwich, had put sexual gratification before his duties as a police officer.

Scott, who retired from Norfolk Police in 2020, was jailed for 22 months.

Ipswich Crown Court heard how he had made regular visits to the woman's home - often late at night and in uniform.

As well as having sex with her, he sent sexually explicit photographs of himself.

Judge Martyn Levett said Scott's victim was in a state of crisis and was taken advantage of.

She later attempted to take her own life.

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Norfolk's chief constable, Paul Sanford, said: "The victim in this case was exceptionally vulnerable and instead of providing help and support and being the professional the public expect, Scott used his role to form an inappropriate relationship, taking advantage of that vulnerability.

"There is no place for this shameful behaviour in policing and I hope the investigation and today's sentencing offers reassurance we will be proactive and deal with offences, even when incidents may have happened several years ago."

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