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Disgraced Staffordshire officer's sex claims dismissed

Claims by a disgraced policeman that fellow officers have had sex while on duty have been dismissed by force bosses.

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Pc Adam Rushton was convicted of five charges of misconduct in a public office and one further offence of obtaining information on a female victim at Birmingham Crown Court.

But during his trial the 37 year old implicated other colleagues and said another officer had sex with a woman in a police car – similar to the offence to which he was found guilty.

But Staffordshire Police say there are no plans to formally investigate the claims.

Detective Chief Constable Nick Baker said: "As part of his defence Adam Rushton did mention others were involved in this kind of behaviour. However, at no point throughout this investigation has Rushton provided us with any specific information relating to such an allegation.

"This was an exceptional case involving a predator who hid his behaviour from those around him. He abused the position of trust he was in on multiple occasions."

A force spokesman said Rushton, who will be sentenced on May 1, has provided no information or names to substantiate his allegations. The neighbourhood officer, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, was suspended in 2013 when an investigation into his behaviour over the previous six years was launched.

Staffordshire police and crime commissioner Matthew Ellis told the E&S that since then effective measures have been put in place to root out inappropriate behaviour.

"We rightly expect our police officers to be beyond reproach, maintaining the highest ethical standards, practices and behaviour," he said. "While that is the right ambition it is also a fact that as human beings there will always be individuals who fall below those expected standards."

Mr Ellis said that a £23 million investment in technology will provide another tool for police to monitor internal behaviour.

"I am both impressed and reassured by the work Staffordshire Police are undertaking to meet the ambition set out in 2013 on ethical behaviour, openness and transparency."

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