'I felt a prisoner at hands of my police abuser'

Whitehurst became controlling and abusive in relationships, three women say

As a sergeant in Warwickshire Police’s anti-corruption unit, Paul Whitehurst’s job was to uphold the highest standards of policing.

The truth could not have been more different.

The BBC has heard allegations from three women that they had been subjected to years of abusive and controlling behaviour, including stalking them on nights out, stealing keys to their houses and standing outside their homes at night, sometimes for hours at a time.

He was jailed for 18 weeks on Monday for violently attacking one of his former partners, but the women say they want to know why Warwickshire Police failed to act when complaints about him first arose.

Warwickshire Police said the 53-year-old had been suspended in May 2022, but would go on to retire two years later, before a misconduct case could be brought.

Whitehurst was arrested in December 2023 after his partner, who the BBC is calling Holly, fled her home and stood in the street screaming for help.

Her clothes were ripped and a shocked neighbour called Cheshire Police.

She and Whitehurst had been in a relationship but he soon turned violent and controlling, and beatings became regular.

"The abuse went on for months I was kept a prisoner in my own home," she told the BBC.

"He pinned me to the floor so I couldn't move. On another occasion he threw me across a room."

'I fear for my life'

After being charged with assault by beating, he was told by the court not to contact Holly as he awaited his trial.

But he brazenly ignored the order, turning up at her home, and was remanded in custody for breaching his bail conditions.

Because of this, he was told on Monday that he would be released, due to time already served.

"I fear for my life," said Holly. "I'm terrified what he will do.

"He's a severe danger to women, people need to be made aware."

Charlotte told Warwickshire Police she was being stalked by Whitehurst

Six months earlier, Whitehurst was mentioned in a BBC News report that revealed police forces were failing women who had made sexual misconduct claims against officers.

Charlotte Smith said she was stalked and harassed by Whitehurst over a two-and-a-half year period, but despite reporting him to his own force, Warwickshire Police, little had been done.

They had first met through his course of work when she was just 14 and identified as a possible victim of grooming.

Years later, she saw Whitehurst, who she did not recognise, staring at her in a bar.

He started sending her text messages - she believes he had her number from when she was a teenager - and they struck up a relationship, which lasted several months.

When Charlotte decided to end the relationship, the harassment began, she said.

She said he inundated her with messages, would follow her and turn up at her house in the day and at night.

"He would literally appear out of nowhere. It would feel like somebody was watching me," she said.

"I would run from the car to the front door to try and get into the house as soon as possible."

Charlotte complained to Warwickshire Police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about his behaviour.

Her complaint went to the Professional Standards, Anti-Corruption and Investigations team - the unit in which Whitehurst worked.

Whitehurst turned up at Charlotte's house more than 30 times

In December 2021, she was told that he hadn't committed a criminal offence and he wouldn't be charged.

But Charlotte said the harassment continued. She has more than 30 videos of doorbell footage of him outside her home.

"I was terrified. I would hide in bed and call the police. Nobody wanted to help and support me."

In May 2022, she made another complaint to the IOPC about his behaviour.

He told his police colleagues he was going to her house to protect her as he was worried about her state of mind.

"He felt like he was above the law and could do whatever he wanted to do," said Charlotte.

"He used to say 'I know people that can come out and arrest you.' It was like he was untouchable."

Paul Whitehurst admitted five charges of assault by beating after an investigation by Cheshire Police

After the BBC interview, Charlotte heard from another woman who said she'd had a similar experience with Paul Whitehurst.

Jade, again a pseudonym, lives in Warwickshire and was in a relationship with him for two years while he was still working as a police officer.

Her friends said they were concerned as he had follow them when they were out together.

"We were all afraid for her, especially after we witnessed him stalking her when we were out as a group," one friend told the BBC.

"He walked into the restaurant and my partner talked him into leaving, but he continued.

"He'd would just come into the bars on his own where we were.

"He 'love bombed' thousands of message to Jade, all whilst he was stalking Charlotte and seeing Holly."

Jade's sister spoke to Warwickshire Police as Jade herself was scared he would retaliate if she made a complaint.

She informed them that Paul Whitehurst had copied Jade's house key without her permission and had accessed her photos and contacts.

No formal statement was taken.

Not enough evidence

As Whitehurst was being interviewed by Cheshire Police over the attack on Holly, Charlotte learned that the Crown Prosecution Service would not be charging him for stalking and harassing her.

She was told there was "not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of securing a conviction" and her complaints were "out of time".

The IOPC told her they had recommended to Warwickshire Police that Whitehurst should face a gross misconduct hearing.

Charlotte says it was "very clear" her former partner should not have been investigated by his own colleagues.

"Things need to change. You can’t investigate your own police force," she said.

"I was complaining to professional standards which was his department."

Whitehurst received a commendation during his 21-year career

Charlotte, Jade and Holly all believe that he will continue to be a risk once he's released from prison.

"There were the same patterns of behaviour happening. He made us all out to be crazy," said Charlotte.

"He took all of our house keys. He assaulted every single one of us. We were all assaulted by him, all in quite similar ways."

They feel that Warwickshire Police failed to protect them from his behaviour.

"If my complaints were handled effectively or efficiently then this would have prevented it from happening sooner," said Charlotte.

Holly has praise for the force that eventually brought him to justice.

"I can’t hold Cheshire Police in high enough esteem, they were just brilliant," Holly said.

"If Warwickshire Police had done something it could have been different."

The IOPC said it had conducted five investigations over allegations including abuse of position for sexual purpose.

"Some of the allegations concern a vulnerable woman he met during the course of his duties," a spokesperson said.

"We concluded that the officer should face gross misconduct proceedings in respect of four of the investigations, which are a matter for Warwickshire Police to arrange. We are currently discussing that with the force."

It said a file was given to the CPS to "consider any potential criminal offences including possible stalking, harassment, and coercive and controlling behaviour".

"In December we were advised by CPS that no charges were being brought against the officer."

The Crown Prosecution Service said all charging decisions go through a rigorous two-step legal test and that their decisions are made independently and fairly.

"We understand that stalking can have profound and devastating impacts on victims and seek to prosecute offenders wherever we can," a spokeswoman added.

Allegations 'extremely concerning'

Warwickshire Police said Paul Whitehurst was suspended in May 2022 and resigned in May 2024, a month before a misconduct hearing ruled he would have been dismissed.

Deputy Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith said the force "welcomed the conviction and sentence" handed to him.

"Officers working in the Professional Standards Department are expected to make sure other members of the workforce uphold the highest standards and that clearly did not happen in the case of Paul Whitehurst."

He said they were "committed to taking robust and immediate action" against rogue officers.

Asked about the other allegations levelled at Whitehurst, Mr Franklin-Smith said they were "extremely concerning".

"I would encourage anyone who hasn’t yet contacted police to do so, so we can investigate and offer support."