RYAN ALTHORPE FROM IPSWICH SENTENCED FOR MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE

A police officer named Ryan Althorpe has been formally sentenced to a period of imprisonment after being found guilty of misconduct in a public office. The case was thoroughly examined over a five-day trial held at Ipswich Crown Court, where it was brought to light that Althorpe, aged 33, who was serving in Woodbridge as part of the Safer Neighbourhood Team at the time, engaged in inappropriate and disturbing conduct towards a woman who had reported a rape. It was revealed that Althorpe sent her messages that were described as 'tacky, grubby and unattractive,' with the disturbing intent of becoming 'sexually aroused.'

Althorpe, a former temporary sergeant, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but was ultimately convicted on two counts of misconduct. The court heard that between November and December 2020, he attempted to initiate sexually inappropriate conversations with the alleged victim, exploiting her vulnerability during a very difficult time. Furthermore, he demonstrated 'wilful neglect' by failing to properly record a rape disclosure made by the woman, which added to the severity of his misconduct.

In July, Althorpe was sentenced to ten months in prison. Following his incarceration, he was released on supervised probation for a period of 12 months, having served at least half of his sentence. The court also considered a victim impact statement, which condemned Althorpe for exploiting and abusing her trust. The statement detailed how she felt profoundly alone, betrayed, and traumatized by his actions, which further compounded her suffering.

Judge Emma Peters delivered a stern judgment, describing how Althorpe had 'exploited, traumatised and used and abused' the woman in his pursuit of sexual arousal. She emphasized that she regarded her as a victim of rape and criticized Althorpe’s behavior as taking advantage of her vulnerable state. The judge highlighted the significant trauma inflicted upon her, especially considering that she had confided in him about her experience as a rape victim, which made his misconduct even more reprehensible.

During the proceedings, the defense acknowledged that Althorpe was generally considered a 'good police officer,' but admitted that his conduct in this case was inappropriate. They clarified that his actions were limited to explicit messaging and did not involve threats or coercion. Althorpe resigned from the police force in June 2022, following a suspension that began in September 2021, marking the end of his service with the force in Ipswich.