A Metropolitan Police officer has been sentenced to jail for engaging in a “intense sexual relationship” with a woman he met while apprehending her boyfriend. Daniel Humphreys, 38, exchanged over 40,000 personal messages with the woman, whom he encountered during a police call on July 4, 2019. The court was informed that their relationship quickly turned sexual, with some messages containing sexist, homophobic, and racist content.
Although Humphreys referred to the woman as his ‘Polish unicorn’ and resigned from his position following the incident, he was found not guilty of misconduct for being involved with a vulnerable individual. However, he was convicted by a jury for another misconduct charge of sharing confidential police data with the woman between July 14, 2019, and November 21, 2021.
During the trial, it was revealed that Humphreys made inappropriate comments about the woman’s physical appearance and shared personal photos with her. He also disclosed sensitive police information, justifying it as assistance for her interest in becoming a special constable.
Humphreys was sentenced to one year in prison by Southwark Crown Court. His defense attorney stated that Humphreys’ actions were driven by love and a desire to impress the woman, rather than malice. The judge criticized Humphreys for his cavalier attitude towards his duties as a police officer and emphasized the breach of privacy and trust caused by sharing confidential information.
The court determined that Humphreys’ conduct posed a risk to the integrity of police operations, even though it did not impact any specific cases. The judge expressed skepticism regarding Humphreys’ claimed motivations and highlighted the officer’s irresponsible behavior in a role that demanded trust and professionalism.