A police officer who bombarded a vulnerable woman with more than 100 messages after meeting her on duty has narrowly avoided jail.

Former PCSO Thomas Daley, who was based in Canterbury, pursued a "sexual or improper" relationship with the woman after being called to her home following a noise complaint.

Between the call-out on July 24, 2020 and the following day, the 50-year-old sent her 119 text messages in which he told her she was attractive, made sexual comments and asked her to send him a picture of herself.

He also asked the woman to contact him on Whatsapp, but acknowledged his behaviour was unprofessional and that the woman could get him sacked.

The woman, who was in a vulnerable position, told investigators she felt exploited by the officer.

In October 2020, she reported to Kent Police - during an unrelated incident - the contact she had had with the PCSO, who was later arrested by the force.

Now, he has been given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting misconduct in public office.

"He failed to maintain appropriate and professional boundaries between himself and the woman..."

He was also handed 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation when he appeared for sentencing at Southwark Crown Court yesterday.

It came after an eight-month investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after the case was referred by Kent Police in October 2020.

During the investigation, Daley was interviewed in relation to the criminal offences and misconduct and evidence was gathered from his mobile phone.

IOPC regional director Graham Beesley said: “Ex-PCSO Daley was found to have engaged in an inappropriate level of communication with a woman, using his personal mobile phone, contacting her while on and off duty, and generally engaging in conversations unrelated to his professional duties.

“He failed to maintain appropriate and professional boundaries between himself and the woman and failed to follow police policy by observing guidance on maintaining this boundary.

“He has now paid the price for his behaviour.”

Ex-PCSO Daley resigned in December and will now face a gross misconduct hearing, to be arranged by Kent Police.