Ex-Pc sentenced over harassment

A former police constable has been given a suspended sentence after he abused his position to wage a campaign of harassment against a woman.

Andrew Broom, who worked in Norwich, stalked his victim over last summer and carried out unauthorised checks on her using the police national computer.

Broom, 44, pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence and three offences of obtaining personal data.

At Norwich Crown Court he was given a six month term suspended for a year.

The court had heard that despite being warned by police not to contact the woman, Broom, of Lower Street, Hoveton, "manufactured" a number of encounters and sent her a series of text messages.

It seems to me you have made pretty much mess of what was otherwise a pretty successful life Judge Paul Downes

Tim Spence QC prosecuting told Norwich Crown Court: "Put simply and starkly, he was stalking her around Norwich.

"Every time she stepped out of her office, she feared she was going to encounter this defendant."

Michael Clare, mitigating, said Broom, who has since resigned from his job as a Norfolk police constable, and his victim had behaved in a "juvenile manner towards each other".

"He is ashamed of what he has done but this isn't a case of stalking," Mr Clare added.

Judge Paul Downes, sentencing, said: "It seems to me you have made pretty much mess of what was otherwise a pretty successful life.

"You would be well advised to stay away from this woman."

Broom had initially been arrested on suspicion of rape and had served the equivalent of a six month jail term while in custody.

This was taken into account by Judge Downes when he passed sentence.