Sacked, the sleazy cop who exchanged 'flirtatious' messages with a vulnerable missing woman

A police officer who abused his position of trust to pursue a missing woman for a sexual purpose has been sacked.

PC Robert Whitehead, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, pursued a relationship with a 'vulnerable' missing woman he had been trying to locate.

An investigation by the police watchdog found that after the woman had been found, he began exchanging 'flirtatious' messages with her, first on his work phone and later in his private device. He told her to delete their conversations or she would 'get in bother'.

PC Whitehead was dismissed without notice at an accelerated misconduct hearing held yesterday (Tuesday) after his behaviour was found to amount to gross misconduct. The decision was announced by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which had carried out its own investigation into Whitehead.

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The IOPC investigation began in November 2022, when the watchdog received a referral from Greater Manchester Police about messages exchanged between PC Whitehead and a 'vulnerable woman he met in the course of his duties'.

He was arrested on November 15 on suspicion of misconduct in public office and improper use of police powers. He was interviewed under criminal caution, and investigators reviewed messages on the woman's phone.

The evidence showed PC Whitehead met the woman after she was reported missing from home and taking part in the police effort to locate her, according to the IOPC.

A short time later he began exchanging messages, first from his GMP-issued mobile phone and