West Yorkshire Police officer accused of asking woman for 'regular sex' after call-out to ASB incident

The woman, known as Miss A, told a hearing on Monday how PC Darren Booth began flirting with her before saying he wanted to "meet up on a regular basis to have sex".

She said the officer then told her "and if you could get someone else involved it would be even better", before arranging to meet her after his shift.

But Miss A, 36, said she reported the planned meeting on the 101 number and, after they went to her flat, PC Booth's colleagues arrived to escort him away.

PC Booth's misconduct hearing, which opened in Wakefield on Monday, heard how the alleged incident happened after the officer was called with a colleague to reports of anti-social behaviour in Castleford town centre on March 7 2019.

Miss A and her friend, Miss B, were part of a group of habitual street drinkers and drug users, the panel heard.

She told the hearing that PC Booth began asking her about her ex-partners as Miss B was being interviewed by his colleague.

Miss A said this started with "banter" as he told her she "deserved better" and that "I was too good for them".

"He was flirting," she said.

Miss A said: "He was asking to meet up with me that night when he finished his shift."

She said: "He basically said he wanted to meet up on a regular basis for sex and if you can get someone else involved it would be even better."

The hearing heard that she told a police sergeant on the night: "He asked if there was anyone else I could get for a threesome."

Miss A told the panel that she agreed to meet PC Booth later because she wanted him to be caught.

"A copper should not be trying it on with me like that," she said.

Asked how she was feeling at that time, Miss A told the hearing: "Sick and confused, to be honest.

"Why would a copper want to get involved with someone like me?

"It's just not normal, is it?"

Miss A described how she met PC Booth in a club car park before going to the flat in Glasshoughton she shared with Miss B.

She said that, at the flat, the officer made further inappropriate comments and asked her for a kiss before his colleagues arrived.

Miss A said the officer told her he was married with children.

In interview she said he told her: "I'm out of uniform now anyway so I'm not really doing anything wrong."

The hearing has heard that PC Booth denies any inappropriate conduct and says he did not proposition Miss A.

He says he went to her flat to get intelligence on counterfeit cigarettes and wanted men.

Nicholas Walker, representing PC Booth, said to Miss A: "You set this officer up, didn't you?"

She said: "Why would I want to set a copper up?"

She added: "He needed to be caught."

Mr Walker said: "Did you think you'd get money from this?"

Miss A said: "No, it never entered my head.

"I want him to be found out for what he is".

She agreed that she was an alcoholic who had a criminal record dating back more than 16 years featuring 56 separate offences, relating to 27 incidents, including one for assaulting a police officer.

Opening the case for West Yorkshire Police professional standards department, Claire Watson, said PC Booth's misconduct had caused Miss A anxiety and left her "shocked and disgusted".

She said that if the allegations were proved: "He behaved in a manner that brought discredit on the police service."

Ms Watson said PC Booth gave no explanation to his colleagues when they found him at the flat and had made no record of anything to do with the meeting or any intelligence gained.

The hearing heard he has been with West Yorkshire Police for 14 years, five as a PCSO and then nine as an officer.

PC Booth denies all the accusations against him and is expected to give evidence on Tuesday.

The hearing is being held at a police station in Wakefield with a video link for press and public at another station seven miles away, in Normanton.