Ex-abuse detective groomed girl

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/staffordshire/8242381.stm

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A former detective constable specialising in child abuse cases has admitted grooming a 15-year-old girl.

Andrew Rowe, 31, formerly of Ashwood, Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to five charges under the Sexual Offences Act.

Staffordshire Police said Rowe, who was arrested in April, had sent the girl hundreds of messages on a social networking site.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

The girl's family released a statement through the force saying Rowe had "completely abused" the trust people had in him.

It is hard to imagine a more shocking abuse of position by an officer Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale

Staffordshire Police said after being arrested, Rowe was suspended from duty and then resigned from the force after his first court appearance.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said Rowe, who had worked as an officer for 12 years, had "betrayed" his victim and her parents.

He added: "It is hard to imagine a more shocking abuse of position by an officer.

"There is also evidence to suggest that he tried to cover his tracks and hamper our inquiries by deliberately deleting phone and computer evidence."

The family's statement said: "As an officer within the child abuse investigation unit, we regarded Andrew Rowe with the highest level of trust possible - a trust which he went on to completely abuse.

"The hardest thing at the beginning was the prospect of reporting a police officer to the police, wondering what level of support, if any, we would receive.

"We would now urge anybody who finds themselves in a similar situation to report the matter immediately, as we have received the highest level of help and support possible."