A West Midlands police officer is facing jail after admitting to sexually assaulting two women while on duty. PC Steven Walters, 47, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at Stafford Crown Court, having initially denied the charges.
The assaults occurred in February and April last year while Walters was on duty as part of a 24-7 response unit. Judge Paul Glenn warned that a custodial sentence is “almost inevitable,” adjourning the case for a pre-sentence report until September 29.
Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe apologised on behalf of West Midlands Police, stating that Walters had “exploited the trust placed in him by two women when they deserved respect and support.” She emphasised that such a breach of trust is “totally unacceptable.”
Walters, based at Sutton Coldfield police station, was suspended from duty following the charges. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted his pleas and dropped a third allegation of misconduct in public office, citing public interest considerations.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission investigated after a complaint from one victim, leading to the charges. Walters will be sentenced later this year.
