Ex-officer guilty of sex assaults

A former policeman from East Yorkshire has been convicted of sexual offences against women he met while on duty.

Lee Rackham, 33, of Kent Road, Cottingham, was convicted of attempted rape and two sexual assaults involving three victims.

He was cleared of three other sexual assaults after a trial at Leeds Crown Court. He had denied all the charges.

Rackham, a Humberside Police officer at the time of the assaults, was told to expect a lengthy prison sentence.

He was granted bail ahead of his sentencing, which will take place at a later date.

Lee Rackham abused the trust placed in him as a police officer Ch Supt Paul Davison

Judge Scott Wolstenholme told him: "The guidelines are quite clear for the offence of attempted rape.

"There has to be a substantial custodial sentence. The length will depend on the material put before me on the sentencing hearing."

Conditions of Rackham's bail include that he reports at a police station twice a week and surrenders his passport.

He was also told he would have to sign the sex offenders register.

The court was told Rackham tried to rape a woman after he befriended her while attending a domestic dispute at her home.

Fast-track dismissal

The jury was told he went to her house and pushed her against her kitchen units and tried to rape her while her son was strapped into his pushchair in a nearby room.

Humberside Police, which dismissed Rackham in May, welcomed the guilty verdicts.

Ch Supt Paul Davison said: "Lee Rackham abused the trust placed in him as a police officer and committed serious offences.

"I would like to praise the victims for their bravery. Our officers' main concern throughout, as with all cases, has been for the victims and to bring the offender to justice."

Ch Supt Kevin Bowe, head of the force's professional standards branch, said: "As soon as the matter came to light Rackham was put through the force's fast-track disciplinary procedure and was dismissed on 5 May 2009, before the case came to court.

"Corruption and serious misconduct undermines police efforts in tackling crime and protecting communities; it limits the effectiveness of police actions and has a detrimental effect on public confidence in the police."