Ex-officer jailed over crime victim relationship

A former South Yorkshire Police officer has been jailed over a sexual relationship with a victim of crime.

Christopher Cave, 62, formed the relationship while working as an officer in Nottinghamshire in 2004 and continued it until early 2011.

After allegations came to light in 2022, Cave was arrested and charged with two counts of misconduct in a public office while working as an evidence review officer at South Yorkshire Police.

At Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, Cave, of Formby in Liverpool, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison after admitting the offences.

Following his arrest, he was suspended from duties in June 2022.

Cave had worked for South Yorkshire Police as an officer between 2010 and 2017 and returned to the force after retiring, firstly in a staff role and later in the evidence review role.

His position was under a scheme available to people who had accumulated more than 30 years of police work.

He officially resigned from the force in December 2023 and pleaded guilty to the two charges against him earlier this year.

The officer in charge of the case, Det Con Nicola Milner, said: "Cave crudely and blatantly abused the trust placed in him as a police officer and the victim in this case remains at the forefront of our minds.

"His conduct fell well below the standard that is expected of our officers and we welcome the result of today's sentencing in court."

South Yorkshire Police said an internal misconduct process would now go ahead following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

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