LONDON, July 29 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
James McClements, 35, of Bridport, West Dorsethad his sentence increasedto 15 months imprisonment fromeight months' imprisonmentsuspended for 12 monthsafter the Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, referred hiscase to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
The court heard that McClements visited the victim's home aftera call shehadmade to police following an assault by her abusive former partner.McClements gave the victim his personal phone number andinstigated asexual relationship with herthat lasted between December 2023andJuly 2024.Throughout therelationship, McClements pressured the victiminto keepingtheir relationshipa secret.
Onone occasion, McClements was visiting the victim at her home whenherabusive ex-partnershowed up atthe property unannounced, breaching his bail conditions.McClements persuaded the victim not to report the incident to police to avoid revealing that he had been there, putting the victim at risk.
The Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP said:
James McClements abused the trust placed in him as a police officer,pursuingan intimate relationship with a domestic abuse victim. Furthermore, hepressuredthevictimintosecrecy, whenwhat sheneededanddeservedwasprofessional support and protection.
I welcome the Court of Appeal's decision to increase his sentence, and I hope this sends a clear message thatseriousmisconductwill be severely punished.
On 16 June 2026,at Bristol Crown Court, James McClements was sentenced toeightmonths' imprisonmentsuspended for 12 months foronecount of misconduct in a publicoffice.
On 29 July 2026, at the Court of Appeal, James McClements sentence was increasedto 15 months imprisonment.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
