Merseyside Police officer who had sex with victims guilty of misconduct

PC Adam Hoyle took advantage of his job to pursue sexual relationships with vulnerable women, the IOPC says.

A Merseyside Police officer, who had sex with vulnerable women while on duty, has been found guilty of misconduct in public office.

Adam Hoyle, 39, had sex with a woman when he was meant to be searching for a missing person, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

The watchdog found he formed inappropriate relationships with three women he met after they reported being victims of domestic or sexual abuse.

He will be sentenced on 27 October.

Hoyle, who was based at Lower Lane police station in Liverpool, was found guilty of misconduct in public office after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court - having admitted three further counts at an earlier hearing.

He was also convicted of three counts of unauthorised access to computer material, which he had denied.

'Disgusting betrayal'

The IOPC said it had begun investigating allegations of inappropriate contact after a referral by Merseyside Police in November 2019.

In two of these cases, Hoyle, of Yelverton Close, Halewood, visited the women while on duty and travelled in a police vehicle to have sex, the police watchdog said.

In October 2016, he was supposed to be looking for a high-risk missing person at the time of one of the visits.

The IOPC also found evidence he attempted to initiate a sexual relationship with another woman.

Catherine Bates, from the IOPC, said: "There is absolutely no place in policing for officers who abuse their position for a sexual purpose.

"PC Hoyle's vile actions are a disgusting betrayal of the trust placed in officers by the public."

She said: "Our investigations found he not only took advantage of his job to pursue sexual relationships with vulnerable women, but in one case he visited a woman to have sex with her when he was supposed to be helping search for a high-risk missing person."

'Reprehensible'

Ch Supt Jennifer Wilson, head of Merseyside Police's professional standards department, described the constable's behaviour as "reprehensible" and said the force would not tolerate any individual abusing their position.

She said Hoyle's behaviour "in no way reflects the behaviour of the vast majority of our hard working officers and staff".

"I hope that people will take some reassurance from the fact this officer has been identified and held accountable for his actions in a criminal court," she said.

Following the conclusion of the criminal case the officer will now be subject to internal disciplinary proceedings, she added.

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