Warwickshire Police Officer Banned for Predatory Messages to Victim's Mother
A former Warwickshire Police detective has been permanently barred from the profession after bombarding a vulnerable woman with hundreds of sexual messages. The officer, John Littlewood, met the woman while investigating a sexual assault report involving her daughter.
Abuse of Position and Trust
Former Detective Constable John Littlewood, who worked in the force's child abuse, trafficking and exploitation team, sent over 300 messages to the woman between May and September 2023. Many of these messages were of a sexualised nature, demonstrating what investigators called "predatory behaviour."
Littlewood even asked the woman to delete the messages, showing he was fully aware he was abusing his position of trust. In one message, he warned: "If you are careless with my messages and don't delete them you could really drop me in it at work."
Misconduct Hearing Findings
The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation uncovered the inappropriate relationship, which included Littlewood meeting the woman at a Coventry hotel in the early hours of October 1, 2023, for approximately 50 minutes. He also made frequent visits to her home, raising suspicions with a support worker who alerted police professional standards.
At a Warwickshire Police misconduct hearing on April 17, Littlewood was found to have breached multiple police professional standards including:
- Authority, respect and courtesy
- Honesty and integrity
- Duties and responsibilities
- Professional conduct
Legal Consequences and Professional Ban
Littlewood admitted one count of improper exercise of police powers and privileges. He received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 15 months, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community work.
The misconduct hearing concluded that had Littlewood not already left the force, he would have been dismissed immediately. He has now been placed on the barred list, meaning he can never work as a police officer again.
Vulnerable Position Exploited
Derrick Campbell, IOPC Director, stated: "DC Littlewood was working in the public protection unit at the time of these allegations and, as such, had access to vulnerable women. He held a position of trust. He abused that position by demonstrating predatory behaviour and pursuing an inappropriate relationship."
The investigation revealed that Littlewood met the woman, referred to as Female X, in October 2021 when assigned to investigate a sexual assault report against her daughter. Despite completing an integrity health check in September 2023 confirming he understood professional boundaries, he continued the inappropriate contact.
Campbell added: "Female X was in a vulnerable position when she was manipulated by DC Littlewood. He met her while on duty and used that contact to start up a friendship which led to inappropriate contact including sexualised messages."
Police professional standards clearly state that officers should never use their position to establish or pursue improper relationships with victims, witnesses, offenders, or other vulnerable persons, and should never engage in inappropriate communication.
