A police officer who claimed to be lost when he was driving in Bradford’s red light district in 2006 has been sacked without notice for using the services of a sex worker in Bolton.

PC Jonathan Trainer, who worked for West Yorkshire Police, was dismissed for gross misconduct after appearing before the force’s disciplinary panel. He has been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.

The off-duty PC was stopped by police in Bolton’s red light district last year when a female passenger confirmed she was a sex worker.

She said: “He picked me up from Lever Street, I worked and then he dropped me back off here."

She confirmed she was a “working girl”.

Earlier, a police officer had noticed Trainer’s car parked on double yellow lines with the engine running. Inside he noticed a male driver and a female front seat passenger. The woman then got out of the vehicle.

PC Graham of Greater Manchester Police told the hearing that it was about 8.35pm on February 13 last year when a vehicle caught his attention on Knight Street, Bolton.

As he looked inside the vehicle when driving past, he saw a male in the driving seat and a female in the passenger seat. There appeared to be “an exchange” between the two, as he saw the pair facing each other, although he could not see their hands.

Trainer, who had served as a police officer since 2005, received an informal warning in 2006 when he was subject to an "ethical review" by the Professional Standards Directorate. This was as a result of being spotted in Bradford’s red light area.

He claimed to have been lost and to have stopped to answer his mobile phone.

“On that occasion, you were given an informal warning and advised about your future conduct and responsibilities as a police officer,” the tribunal heard.

The panel accepted that there was no evidence that he was then seeking or had paid for sexual services.

Trainer, who received a commendation in 2007, accepted being in Bolton’s red light area but had denied he was there intending to or using the service of, a sex worker. 

During an interview under caution in July last year, PC Trainer said in a statement that a woman he knew socially got out of his vehicle after he gave her a lift home. He denied knowing she was a sex worker and denied engaging in sexual activity with her or paying her.

The report said: "The panel gave serious consideration to Final Written Warning but considered that this would not maintain public confidence in policing, nor would it uphold high standards in policing or deter misconduct."

It said the informal warning in 2006 and a Written Warning in 2015 were noted and added: "In addition, we note from the service record the officer has worked within the Kirklees Safeguarding Public Protection Unit and so must have enhanced knowledge of safeguarding and protecting vulnerable people.

"It is widely known within policing that sex workers are often vulnerable victims of
exploitation, control and physical and sexual violence.

"The role of a police officers is to try to keep vulnerable people safe.

"Despite being aware of the potential vulnerabilities of the female, PC Trainer chose to use her services.

"He also must have been aware of the potential for sex workers to be linked with organised
crime groups and should have realised the risk this posed to his integrity as a police officer.

"The conduct is very serious and damaging to public confidence in the police service."

The panel concluded that "the only sanction that meets the purpose of the police misconduct regime is that of dismissal without notice". 

Trainer can appeal against his dismissal to the Police Appeals Tribunal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The former police officer can appeal against his dismissal to the Police Appeals Tribunal.