'We make a hot couple' message found on GMP officer's phone from domestic violence victim he met on duty

A GMP officer has admitted he "buried his head in the sand" and failed to report a relationship he had formed with a victim of domestic violence he met on duty. PC Dean Birkhead told a misconduct hearing he was "scared" of the potential consequences.

The hearing was told that his contact with the woman, called female A, developed rapidly after he took two statements from her alleging abuse by her then husband on December 8th and 11th 2018. By December 24th the woman had sent him a picture of her in a bikini. In early January 2019 she sent two images of her and the officer merged with the captions "hot stuff us baby" and "we make a hot couple". But PC Birkhead and the woman both denied it was a sexual relationship at that stage.

PC Birkhead had organised the arrest of the woman's then partner, after he had breached the conditions of his bail. The woman had called 999 on December 7th 2018 about a domestic incident involving her husband. When PC Birkhead later visited her with a member of police staff, she said she she was convinced her husband would kill her.

But by December 13th the woman was contacting PC Birkhead on his personal mobile phone. The woman told the hearing she contacted him via his personal mobile as it was quicker than hanging on the line via 101.

The officer, who is based in Stockport, is accused of forming a relationship with a domestic abuse victim, not informing anyone at GMP about the relationship, and of hiding his phone, and providing inaccurate information when investigated. He is now answering allegations that his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

He denies the allegations, but does not dispute claims he contacted and met the woman outside of work. In April 2019 he left his marital home