Former West Mercia Police officer Oliver Dines was jailed for 15 months after admitting corruption at Worcester Crown Court

An ex-police officer who inappropriately touched two women in a “clear case of abusing power” has been jailed for corruption. Former West Mercia Police officer Oliver Dines was jailed for 15 months after using his role in an attempt to pursue relationships.

The 33-year-old was on duty when he improperly used his police powers and privileges to target two women on separate occasions in Herefordshire in 2020. Woman A, a suspect for an alleged offence, had been waiting to be interviewed by Dines when he asked if she was single.

After taking her back home from custody, he then commented on what she was wearing and inappropriately touched her. While still on duty, he requested her as a Facebook friend before bombarding her with 50 messages in eight hours.

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A second victim, woman B, came to Dines to report an assault, but he continued contacting her from his work – and later personal – phone. His messages “quickly became sexualised and explicit”, the IOPC said, and at one point he asked her to send pictures of herself.

She refused and asked Dines to stop messaging her, but he continued. Dines also made “unnecessary visits” to woman B at her home. On one occasion, he inappropriately touched her.

The IOPC began its investigation after a West Mercia Police referral over the officer’s conduct in December 2020. Dines was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court today, Wednesday, February 12 as he was “held accountable for his actions.”

IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: “Part of a police officer’s role is to protect members of the public who are in vulnerable situations, not to make them feel uncomfortable and unsafe. This was a clear case of abuse of power by the officer, for his own gratification.

“PC Dines’ behaviour has the potential to seriously undermine public confidence in policing and he has now, rightly, been held accountable for his actions.”

During IOPC enquiries, investigators interviewed the police officer, examined his mobile phone and obtained statements from several witnesses, including the two women he targeted. He admitted during interview that he failed to act with integrity and that he had pursued an improper emotional relationship with both women.

The IOPC recommended that Dines should face gross misconduct proceedings, but he was dismissed from West Mercia Police in March 2022 on an unrelated matter.