Ex-PC jailed for 'betrayal' of revenge porn victim

An ex-police officer has been jailed for eight months after "pestering" and messaging a victim of revenge porn and keeping intimate video of her on his work phone.

Mark Cranfield, who was a PC at the West Mercia force, was convicted in December of two counts of misconduct in public office and a computer misuse offence.

The 52-year-old had sent social media messages, including one discussing his sex life, to the woman, who was said during his two-week trial to be highly vulnerable.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Kerry Maylin described the offending by Cranfield, from Bromfield, Shropshire, who had also worked as a royal protection officer, as a "grave betrayal" of the woman's trust in the police.

Cranfield in 2018 sent a friend request to the woman just minutes after she left a police station, where he had downloaded a video given to him as evidence, the court heard.

Jurors were told Cranfield made his attraction to the woman obvious during her dealing with the force when making a complaint relating to the material, smirking as he told her: "I'm glad I got to see the pictures."

Prosecutor Simon Rippon had told the trial two photographs of the woman were found on Cranfield's phone, with a video of her stripping and engaging in a sexual act.

Judge Maylin said the woman had withdrawn her complaint about which she had sought police help, cutting off contact with the force because Cranfield made her feel uncomfortable.

Sentencing Cranfield, the judge added: "[The woman] told this court that you seemed more interested in the content of the photos and the video of an intimate nature than in supporting (her) and investigating the allegations that she made.

"You were exploring whether you could have an intimate relationship with her, be that in person or online."

The court heard he had forwarded intimate videos and images to a WhatsApp account which was yet to be traced, which, the judge said, had "a marked impact" on the victim.

She added that although Cranfield "now expressed remorse" his sentence could not be suspended.

Cranfield, who was based at Ludlow police station, told his trial that he had no sexual interest in the woman and believed he had deleted the images and video.

He denied he had been "titillated" by the video, and said he had initially contacted the woman via a social media messaging app to discuss "everyday" issues.

He added he had only sent further messages in a panic because his wife wrongly believed he was having an affair.

Defence barrister Liz Power said Cranfield was a hardworking family man who had been stacking shelves at Tesco "to add a little bit more to the family income".

The former officer was cleared of a third misconduct charge relating to the social media friend request.

The judge said Cranfield's career had been "exemplary" until his misconduct began.

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