Former Northamptonshire cop who arranged sex with prostitute quit force ahead of misconduct hearing

Granted anonymity in advance of the hearing, Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet considered the evidence at Northamptonshire Police at Force Headquarters on May 6 – and found the officer’s conduct proved as ‘gross misconduct’.

It was alleged that the unknown officer breached the standards of professional behaviour when between December 2023 and February 2024 he received sexual services arranged through the ‘Sugar Daddy’ website in return for payment on more than one occasion.

Mr Balhatchet said: “The conduct is too serious and the risk of reputational harm too high for this to be appropriate.

"This was a clear and repeated breach, contrary to police guidance, which fundamentally threatens the trust and confidence the public places with the police. I find therefore that the appropriate outcome in this case would have been dismissal had the officer still be serving.”

It was alleged that the officer concerned breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to ‘discreditable conduct’.

The former officer had resigned from Northamptonshire Police prior to the hearing being held and did not attend the hearing.

He claimed he believed he was engaging in a ‘genuine personal relationship’ and was providing ‘financial assistance’ to her as she was in personal difficulty.

But sexually explicit messages showed there was a ‘clear arrangement for the officer’ to pay for sex in December 2023 at her house.

After meeting in person for the first time on December 22, 2023, three days later the officer texted the sex worker arranging another hour of sexual services.

On New Year’s Day 2024, the officer organised a 30-minute session for £70 – money upfront and paid in cash.

He also negotiated a cut price deal bargaining her down from £200 for an hour to £150 because she needed the money.

The sex worker later explained she did not know the man was a police officer when she first spoke to him, and that he ‘had come round to her house and paid for sex’.

According to the NPCC Sex Work National Police Guidance that was in force at the time that the conduct took place, "the use of sex workers is now incompatible with the role of a police officer or police staff member”.

Mr Balhatchet said: “When police officers and staff make use of services offered by sex workers there is an obvious significant risk that this is highly likely to undermine public trust.

"For that reason, police officers and staff should not procure or attempt to procure physically provided commercial sexual services or other services. To do so would compromise their professional position.

“I accept that the use of sex worker services is incompatible with the role of a police officer. While the activity of purchasing sex is not, in itself unlawful, the practice of doing so is fraught with risk given the possible vulnerabilities of those that sell sex, the possibility of exposing the officer in question to pressure or blackmail, and the risk of undermining the officer’s impartiality. Further, it exposes the police more generally to a high risk of public confidence in the service being undermined.”

He concluded: “I have considered first whether taking no action would be an appropriate outcome. In my determination the conduct is too serious and the risk of reputational harm too high for this to be appropriate. This was a clear and repeated breach, contrary to police guidance, which fundamentally threatens the trust and confidence the public places with the police. The officer will accordingly be placed on the Barred List.”

The officer has the right to appeal in accordance with the Police Appeals Tribunal Rules 2020 and has 10 working days from May 6 2026 to appeal.