This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx4lw3e1leo
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
The kiss that sealed corrupt Manchester police officer's fate | The kiss that sealed corrupt Manchester police officer's fate |
(about 7 hours later) | |
CCTV captured the moment Greater Manchester Police constable Choni Kenny kissed a serving prisoner while in her uniform | CCTV captured the moment Greater Manchester Police constable Choni Kenny kissed a serving prisoner while in her uniform |
Footage of a Greater Manchester Police constable kissing a prisoner while in her uniform helped seal a conviction that landed her behind bars. | Footage of a Greater Manchester Police constable kissing a prisoner while in her uniform helped seal a conviction that landed her behind bars. |
An anti-corruption investigation found Choni Kenny, 27, had passed information to two criminals she had romantic relationships with. | An anti-corruption investigation found Choni Kenny, 27, had passed information to two criminals she had romantic relationships with. |
Drug-dealer Josh Whelan was serving a sentence at HMP Forest Bank in Manchester, when CCTV showed her embracing him in a visitation area. | Drug-dealer Josh Whelan was serving a sentence at HMP Forest Bank in Manchester, when CCTV showed her embracing him in a visitation area. |
Kenny, who had served in the force since 2020, was jailed for three years and nine months at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday. | Kenny, who had served in the force since 2020, was jailed for three years and nine months at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday. |
The court heard she had a "casual sexual relationship" with Whelan, described by Judge Neil Flewitt KC as a "committed criminal", and a "physical but casual" relationship with former schoolmate Rahim Mottley after breaking up with Whelan. | The court heard she had a "casual sexual relationship" with Whelan, described by Judge Neil Flewitt KC as a "committed criminal", and a "physical but casual" relationship with former schoolmate Rahim Mottley after breaking up with Whelan. |
Whelan, 31, was in possession of 20 different mobile phones while serving time in prison between 2021 and 2023 and their use was funded by Kenny, the court was told. | Whelan, 31, was in possession of 20 different mobile phones while serving time in prison between 2021 and 2023 and their use was funded by Kenny, the court was told. |
Judge Flewitt said it was an "aggravating feature" that it was clear from conversations Kenny knew Whelan was a drug dealer. | Judge Flewitt said it was an "aggravating feature" that it was clear from conversations Kenny knew Whelan was a drug dealer. |
"You were helping him to supervise that operation from prison," he added. | "You were helping him to supervise that operation from prison," he added. |
Choni Kenny had let down both her police force and the community, a judge said | |
The court heard Kenny accessed police information and intelligence which she shared with Whelan, including a victim statement taken when he was accused of violence against a former partner. | The court heard Kenny accessed police information and intelligence which she shared with Whelan, including a victim statement taken when he was accused of violence against a former partner. |
In November 2022, when Whelan was released from prison, Kenny was seen with him in her BMW and went to a Nando's restaurant with him, before going to work where she searched for details of prisoners released that week. | In November 2022, when Whelan was released from prison, Kenny was seen with him in her BMW and went to a Nando's restaurant with him, before going to work where she searched for details of prisoners released that week. |
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Kenny and Whelan split up not long after his release and Kenny then started a "physical" but "casual" relationship with Mottley. | Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Kenny and Whelan split up not long after his release and Kenny then started a "physical" but "casual" relationship with Mottley. |
Mottley had previously been arrested in February of the same year as part of a police operation into aggravated burglary and released under investigation. | Mottley had previously been arrested in February of the same year as part of a police operation into aggravated burglary and released under investigation. |
He tasked Kenny to keep him up to date with police intelligence, which she did by accessing and passing on confidential information. | He tasked Kenny to keep him up to date with police intelligence, which she did by accessing and passing on confidential information. |
She told him about a planned police firearms raid and promised to find out who the "local grasses" were before attending a course about handling police informants, the court heard. | She told him about a planned police firearms raid and promised to find out who the "local grasses" were before attending a course about handling police informants, the court heard. |
'Naivety and immaturity' | 'Naivety and immaturity' |
Judge Flewitt told Kenny: "You have let down not only GMP and the community it serves but also yourself, your family and your friends." | Judge Flewitt told Kenny: "You have let down not only GMP and the community it serves but also yourself, your family and your friends." |
He said: "Your actions were not motivated by a desire for a financial or other advantage or borne out of any malice. | He said: "Your actions were not motivated by a desire for a financial or other advantage or borne out of any malice. |
"They were a consequence of your naivety, immaturity and wish to maintain the friendship of Josh Whelan and Rahim Mottley." | "They were a consequence of your naivety, immaturity and wish to maintain the friendship of Josh Whelan and Rahim Mottley." |
Kenny, of Tennyson Road in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, admitted four counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office at an earlier hearing. | Kenny, of Tennyson Road in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, admitted four counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office at an earlier hearing. |
Kenny was formally dismissed from the force at an accelerated misconduct hearing on 1 April after pleading guilty. | Kenny was formally dismissed from the force at an accelerated misconduct hearing on 1 April after pleading guilty. |
GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson described Kenny's behaviour as "simply unacceptable". | GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson described Kenny's behaviour as "simply unacceptable". |
"Her accessing and sharing police data with active criminals is a tangible manifestation of a distinct lack of integrity, decency and moral fibre which additionally point to her being manifestly unsuited to the office of constable," he said. | "Her accessing and sharing police data with active criminals is a tangible manifestation of a distinct lack of integrity, decency and moral fibre which additionally point to her being manifestly unsuited to the office of constable," he said. |
Mottley, 28, was arrested in Spain, where some of his family lived and Kenny had spent time with him, and was extradited to the UK in October 2024 to face justice. | Mottley, 28, was arrested in Spain, where some of his family lived and Kenny had spent time with him, and was extradited to the UK in October 2024 to face justice. |
He was sentenced to two years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. | He was sentenced to two years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. |
Whelan, of Purley Avenue in Wythenshawe, Manchester, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting three counts of possessing a specified item in prison, possession of a bladed article, racially aggravated assault, threatening behaviour and a bail offence. | Whelan, of Purley Avenue in Wythenshawe, Manchester, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting three counts of possessing a specified item in prison, possession of a bladed article, racially aggravated assault, threatening behaviour and a bail offence. |
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. | Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. |
Previous version
1
Next version