Sickening crimes of jailed ex-cop who took advantage of vulnerable victims

A police officer who 'took advantage of his status and power' and slept with a domestic violence victim and sexted another has been jailed by a judge who said such crimes affected public trust in the police at a time 'when it had been so seriously undermined.'

Now ex-Lancashire Police PC Darren Coathup, 39, bedded the 'vulnerable' woman just days after completing a training course on sexual misconduct, during which he was also sending her 'intimate' messages and pictures.

He later told her he had a sexually transmitted infection and asked her to take a test, posting money through her letterbox for it, a court heard.

READ MORE: 'Don't knock a copper until you've tried one!': Married officer facing jail after sleeping with vulnerable domestic abuse victim and sexting another

She was the second woman he had met through his work he formed a relationship with, having also exchanged sexual messages, pictures and videos with another alleged crime victim who said he 'preyed on her' after she reported her ex had assaulted her.

Coathup's offending came to light after staff at Lancashire Police, where he worked for 18 years from 2003, noticed unusual activity on his work mobile.

Following an investigation, he was charged with, and admitted, misconduct in a public office and appeared at Manchester Crown Court this morning (Friday) to be sentenced.

And Judge Alan Conrad KC ignored pleas from his barrister to suspend his prison term saying 'this is a case where appropriate punishment can only be achieved by the imposition of immediate custody.' Coathup, dressed in a navy suit, showed no visible emotion as he was led away.

Passing sentence, Judge Conrad told him: "Offences of this nature strike at public confidence in our police