Pc admits girl's 'sex' message

Miller has since lost his job and flat

A former police officer has been sentenced to 160 hours community service for leaving a sex message on a teenager's mobile phone.

Magistrates in Newcastle heard that Keith Miller left a voicemail on a 14-year-old girl's phone in which he said he was committing a sex act.

Miller, 33, of Northbourne Street, Gateshead, a former probationary officer with the Northumbria force, admitted a charge of sending an offensive message but claimed he did not know the girl was under age.

He admitted leaving an offensive message with her in April last year.

The court heard how the girl's stepfather listened to the part of the message but found it too obscene to hear all of it.

You were in a position of trust, you should have known better than to send out obscene messages Edward Luck, magistrate

Police were contacted and traced the call to Miller.

John Wilkinson, defending, said his client's life had been shattered by the case.

After his arrest Miller left Northumbria Police where he had almost finished his two-year probationary period.

Since he first appeared in court he had also lost his new job with a financial firm and had to sell his flat, Mr Wilkinson added.

Magistrate Edward Luck gave Miller credit for his early guilty plea and his previous good character.

He said: "We feel at the time you were a probationary police officer and you were in a position of trust, you should have known better than to send out obscene messages."

Northumbria Police declined to comment after the case.

After a previous hearing, Superintendent Michael Hassen said: "I am very happy that he is no longer a police officer."

Miller did not comment as he left court.