Paul Whitehurst victim a ‘prisoner’ in her own home

Six months earlier, Whitehurst was mentioned in a BBC News report that revealed police forces were failing women who had made sexual misconduct claims against officers.

Charlotte Smith said she was stalked and harassed by Whitehurst over a two-and-a-half year period, but despite reporting him to his own force, Warwickshire Police, little had been done.

They had first met through his course of work when she was just 14 and identified as a possible victim of grooming.

Years later, she saw Whitehurst, who she did not recognise, staring at her in a bar.

He started sending her text messages – she believes he had her number from when she was a teenager – and they struck up a relationship, which lasted several months.

When Charlotte decided to end the relationship, the harassment began, she said.

She said he inundated her with messages, would follow her and turn up at her house in the day and at night.

“He would literally appear out of nowhere. It would feel like somebody was watching me,” she said.

“I would run from the car to the front door to try and get into the house as soon as possible.”

Charlotte complained to Warwickshire Police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about his behaviour.

Her complaint went to the Professional Standards, Anti-Corruption and Investigations team – the unit in which Whitehurst worked.