September 12, 2018 3.58 pm This story is over 67 months old

‘Sex predator’ police officer from Lincolnshire jailed

He was dismissed in August 2017
Former Northamptonshire Police officer Jason Farquhar, aged 44, of Stamford, has been sentenced to over two years in prison. Photo: Northamptonshire Police

A police officer from Lincolnshire has been sentenced to more than two years in jail for pursuing ‘improper’ relationships with vulnerable women.

Former Northamptonshire Police officer, Jason Farquhar, aged 44, of Stamford, admitted the offences at Northampton Crown Court in a hearing on Tuesday, September 11.

He also pleaded guilty to a further charge, under the Computer Misuse Act, of misusing Force systems and he has been sentenced to 32 months in prison.

The investigation into Farquhar began in April 2016 following a complaint of inappropriate behaviour.

He was suspended from duty in April 2016 and dismissed from the force in August 2017 following a fast-track gross misconduct disciplinary hearing.

Northamptonshire Police’s Counter-Corruption Unit carried out a two-year inquiry.

As part of the investigation detectives spoke to over 100 women – victims, colleagues, family of suspects or offenders – who Farquhar had had some form of contact with in the previous 12 months in his role as a police officer.

Numerous examples of inappropriate contact by phone, text or social media, and subsequent allegations of sexual misconduct were found.

Deputy Chief Constable at Northamptonshire Police Rachel Swann said: “Farquhar deliberately and consciously crossed the boundary between his role as a police officer and his personal life, repeatedly breaching the standards of professional behaviour by failing to act with self-control and pursuing improper personal relationships.

“He took advantage of his position to engage in highly inappropriate contact with women, many of whom were in a vulnerable situation.

“They needed the professionalism expected of a police officer not the selfish advances of a sexual predator.

“This, the worst ever such case uncovered within this Force, was an absolute abuse of his position and we hope this conviction and his dismissal from the police service goes some way to reassure the public of our determination to identify and deal with unprofessional conduct and, where necessary, pursue the case through the criminal justice system.”