Two West Midlands Cops Face Jail for Sleeping with Vulnerable Women on Duty
West Midlands Police officers Anthony Ritchie and Steven Walters are heading to prison after abusing their power to have sexual relationships with vulnerable women while on duty. The damning Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report reveals shocking misconduct.
Ritchie’s Scandalous Affairs with Victims
- Ritchie, 46, bedded one woman after arresting her partner and started a sexual relationship with another after trying to arrest her son.
- Their contacts included private phone calls and secret trysts while Ritchie was meant to be working.
- One woman told him about Walters’ earlier oral sex abuse during a 2013 domestic abuse call — but Ritchie did nothing.
- In 2014, Ritchie also persuaded a woman to lie about how they met after her son complained about their relationship.
Walters’ Past Misconduct and Conviction
- Walters, 55, forced oral sex on two women during domestic abuse responses in 2013.
- He was jailed in 2015 for sexually assaulting two other women and sacked by West Midlands Police in 2016.
- He faces new misconduct charges alongside Ritchie.
‘Predatory’ Conduct to Lead to Jail
Both officers were found guilty of misconduct in public office at Birmingham Crown Court. Judge Roderick Henderson branded their actions “predatory” and warned they should expect jail when sentenced on September 21.
“The abuse of power for sexual gain undermines public trust and discredits policing.” – IOPC statement
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, praised the bravery of the victims who came forward and helped secure the convictions. So far, West Midlands Police has declined to comment on the scandal.
