Former Police Officer Jailed for Sexual Offenses Against Vulnerable Girl

A former police officer has been sentenced to over seven years in prison for sexual offenses against a vulnerable 13-year-old girl he met online.

Haider Siddique, 22, was apprehended in March of last year after a bus driver witnessed his inappropriate behavior. He had joined West Midlands Police in 2021 as a student officer. The force condemned his actions as "sickening".

The NSPCC stated that Siddique's "targeted grooming and sexual abuse of a vulnerable girl was a terrible breach of trust." They added: "Having undertaken training to become a police officer, Siddique should have known the devastating impact child sexual abuse can have on the victims."

The NSPCC also praised the bus driver for speaking up. In January, at Birmingham Crown Court, Siddique confessed to two counts of sexual activity with a child. He resigned while in custody.

West Midlands Police conducted an expedited misconduct hearing in private following his guilty plea. They confirmed that he would have been dismissed if he had not resigned. The force also stated that he had never been assigned to an operational role.

Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green commented: "This was a sickening criminal act by a former student officer, and I know his fellow officers will be repulsed by his behavior."

In addition to his prison sentence, Siddique will be registered as a Sex Offender for life. He is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that prohibits him from online contact with anyone under 16 and any unsupervised contact with anyone under 16, unless their parents are aware of the offences.