A WEST Midlands Police officer has been dismissed for abusing his position of trust after engaging in a relationship with a domestic abuse victim during the course of his duties.

James Ankrett admitted corrupt or other improper exercise of police powers at Wolverhampton Crown Court on September 14 after he formed an inappropriate relationship with the woman in July 2017.

He was charged in 2019 following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The force response officer was restricted from duties and worked in a non-public facing role following the report, while an investigation was carried out.

He was suspended from duty after appearing at court and an accelerated misconduct hearing was convened for today (October 14) where he was dismissed without notice.

Chairing the misconduct panel, Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “This behaviour is a matter of deep public concern at this time. The issue of Violence Against Women and Girls requires the police to act as champions for the fair treatment of women. Public trust is undermined when officers behave as this officer has.

He added: "Officers like this have no place in West Midlands Police. They are an abhorrence to the men and women who make up this organisation who go out day in day out to protect the most vulnerable. They damage our standing and professional reputation. We will root them out and not only dismiss them but actively seek prosecutions when criminal laws have been broken."

Ankrett will be sentenced