A former Thames Valley police officer checked the number plate of a woman before using police computers to locate and visit her. 

Oliver Perry-Smith, formerly a police constable, was today locked up for pursuing “several women” over the course of a few years. 

Reading Crown Court heard how the 38-year-old “took advantage of his privileged position” as he went after “emotionally vulnerable women” using police computers.

Perry-Smith, of Denman Drive, Newbury, was charged with misconduct in public office and computer misuse after he formed sexual relationships with several women over the course of four years. 

He met the women – who were all potential defendants, witnesses, or otherwise involved in police investigations -- through the course of his duties.

More than once, he used police software to find out confidential information about them, such as checking a woman’s numberplate to find her name and address so he could visit her later that evening.

The court heard that many of these women were emotionally vulnerable at the time and Perry-Smith would take advantage of this by visiting them while on duty and in full police uniform.

Prosecutor Charles White said: “Oliver Perry-Smith took advantage of his privileged position and access to police resources to pursue several women over a few years.

“He knowingly breached police policy when he made personal visits while on duty. He seemed to think that by lying to his superiors and using his duties as an excuse, he’d be immune to the consequences of his actions.”

Perry-Smith was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for three counts of misconduct in public office and two counts of unauthorised access to computer material.

Mr White continued: “Today’s sentence proves no one is above the law, including those meant to uphold it. Perry-Smith abused his power, broke public trust, and made many women feel uncomfortable or unsafe in his inappropriate pursuit of them. I hope today’s sentence brings those women a sense of justice.”

Perry-Smith was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, April 29. 

TVP Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “Former PC Oliver Perry-Smith abused his position of power as a police officer and has rightly been punished for his disgraceful, criminal actions.

“We took robust action by referring his case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as well as carrying out our own misconduct procedures.

“In these misconduct procedures, Chief Constable John Campbell determined that if PC Perry-Smith had not resigned, he would have been dismissed from our force.

“The public has a right to expect that police officers always act with the utmost integrity and professionalism, and that they can be trusted to use personal information on police systems appropriately and respectfully.

“Officers who fail to do this are committing a criminal offence, not to mention falling far below the standards their colleagues and the public expect of them.

“I am pleased that Perry-Smith has faced justice for his actions and is no longer part of Thames Valley Police.”