Police officer who sent sex texts to victim jailed

Ryan Althorpe, 33, was jailed for 10 months after a sentencing hearing at Ipswich Crown Court

A Suffolk police officer who sent “tacky, grubby and unattractive” messages to an alleged rape victim in order to become “sexually aroused” has been jailed.

Ryan Althorpe, 33, of Meadow Crescent, Ipswich, was found guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office after a five-day trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Between 16 November 2020 and 3 December 2020, he attempted to have a “sexually inappropriate” conversation with a female with a view to engaging in sexual activity.

The former temporary sergeant, who also showed “wilful neglect” to record the disclosure of a non-recent rape allegation, was sentenced to 10 months in prison in July.

At the time of the offences, Althorpe was stationed in Woodbridge with the Safer Neighbourhood Team, following a “pretty impressive rise” through the ranks.

Althorpe, who previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, had received private disclosure on Facebook of an alleged non-recent rape by a woman aged in her 30s.

Over a period of just over two weeks, he sent explicit sexual comments to the woman through private messaging on Facebook while discussing the rape allegation.

Althorpe is also said to have repeatedly requested video calls, phone calls and photo exchanges before the victim confided in someone and reported it to the police.

Althorpe was subsequently suspended from the force in September 2021 before he resigned from his role as a police officer in June 2022.

At Ipswich Crown Court Judge Emma Peters said Althorpe had 'exploited' victim

During a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, a statement was read to the court on behalf of the victim by a prosecutor, Adam Norris.

“I was struggling with my mental health, and Ryan Althorpe led me to believe he would help me, but he never helped me and had no intention of helping me,” it read.

“He made me feel very alone and upset, and I felt extremely let down, having opened up about everything to him.

“Reading them unwanted words was disgusting. I felt used, let down, unimportant and extremely low, but all he was interested in was getting his own personal kicks.

“He abused his position in the force and neglected his duty of care, and now I am dealing with pain and upset.”

Defence barrister Miles Bennett said the married father had been a “good police officer”, but the offences had “brought about a spectacular fall”.

He also said, although he had acted in a “tacky, grubby and deeply unattractive” way, his actions had been restricted to explicit messages.

“There were no threats, coercion or harassment and that is a significant and important factor in mitigation,” Mr Bennett added.

Ryan Althorpe was a temporary sergeant based in Woodbridge at the time of the offences

Judge Emma Peters said Althorpe had “exploited, traumatised and used and abused” the woman so he could become “aroused”.

She said: “She had told you she was a victim of rape and asked her to describe in graphic detail what had happened, while calling her ‘stunning’ and ‘hot’.

“This lady had turned to you, and all you did was to take advantage of her and traumatise her further.”

Althorpe was sentenced to 10 months for each offence, to be served concurrently.

He will serve at least half of the sentence, and upon release will be placed under supervision for 12 months.