A disgraced police officer has been sacked after having an inappropriate relationship with rape victim

Evan Potter, who was based at Folkestone Police Station, even spoke to her pretending to be her attacker while forming an inappropriate emotional relationship, a misconduct hearing heard.

After the 52-year-old was appointed as her sexual offences liaison officer (SOLO) they shared 2,000 texts in 15 days and discreetly met on various occasions, including in a supermarket car park.

Of those messages, some were professional, however, many were overly familiar, teasing and joking while using nicknames and discussing their private lives.

The evidence showed he was forming an inappropriate emotional relationship with the woman, a Kent Police hearing heard.

Once after she had gone through the circumstances of the rape in detail, Potter sent a string of messages and appeared to encourage the victim to relive the rape while speaking to her as if he were the perpetrator.

Potter first met the victim as her case officer after she reported being raped in 2020 – the IOPC began investigating following a conduct referral from Kent Police.

Potter faced allegations of gross misconduct after being accused of having an inappropriate emotional relationship with the woman, a victim of crime.

Gross misconduct was found proven at a disciplinary hearing yesterday.

The IOPC looked at the nature and content of communications exchanged between Potter and the woman and investigated the officer’s actions and behaviour during the period he was acting as her SOLO, specifically:

• Whether their relationship was appropriate

• Whether Potter complied with force and national police policy in relation to his interactions with the woman

Potter was initially arrested and interviewed by Kent Police and then further interviewed by IOPC investigators. He also provided a written account.

The woman was also interviewed by the IOPC and provided her account of events.

At the end of the investigation in January 2021, the IOPC decided Potter had a case to answer for breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour at the level of gross misconduct and should face a disciplinary hearing.

A police disciplinary panel, led by a legally qualified, independent chairman, heard evidence the IOPC found Potter failed to keep accurate records of his interactions with the woman and failed to act appropriately in his role as SOLO.

He was also accused of failing to alert a line manager to his inappropriate relationship with the victim.

Potter also failed to safeguard the woman and notify any third parties when she alluded to suicidal thoughts.

He also wrongly accessed police information and disclosed it to the woman without a policing purpose.

The panel determined that he had breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to authority, respect and courtesy; duties and responsibilities; confidentiality; and discreditable conduct.

IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “PC Potter’s relationship with the woman was intense, lasting 15 days until his actions were discovered by Kent Police. In that time, he met with the woman on numerous occasions and exchanged more than 2,000 text messages with her.

“He should have known his conduct was wrong and failed to report this to his manager.

“From the start of their police service, officers are made fully aware that trying to form inappropriate relationships with members of the public who they deal with through their professional duties, particularly those in vulnerable positions as victims of crime, is completely unacceptable.

“Following a gross misconduct hearing, the officer has been sacked and placed on the barred list, meaning he cannot serve in policing again.

“This sends a clear message that behaviour of this kind has no place in policing and will not be tolerated – in this case it was subject to a thorough and robust investigation by both the IOPC and initially by Kent Police.”

As part of the investigation, the IOPC also examined text and Instagram messages exchanged, alongside the officer’s shift rota, to establish how much of the contact took place while he was off duty.

Witness accounts were also taken from the officer’s supervisor and from another SOLO sergeant, and policies and procedures inspected to establish what was expected of officers working as Kent Police SOLOs.

PC Potter was among a group of officers awarded in 2011 for their part in rescuing a woman trapped in a submerged car near Wye that April.

He was one of three officers awarded in recognition of their professionalism.