Police Officer jailed after sending explicit images
Jody Lathwell sent communication of a sexual nature to a member of the public he had met in the course of his policing duties.
A police officer been jailed at Northampton Crown Court for the offence of misconduct in a public office.
In November 2023, PC Jody Lathwell, a response officer based in Northampton, sent communication of a sexual nature to someone he believed to be a member of the public he had met in the course of his policing duties.
The 44-year-old was subsequently charged with one count of misconduct in a public office, pleading guilty to the offence at Northampton Crown Court on April 17 this year.
The contact was reported to Northamptonshire Police and PC Lathwell was suspended whilst an investigation took place, led by the Force’s Counter Corruption Unit.
Lathwell returned to the same court yesterday (May 28) where he was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and given 100 hours of unpaid work and 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days.
An accelerated gross misconduct disciplinary hearing was also held yesterday at Northamptonshire Police Force Headquarters, chaired by Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet.
Mr Balhatchet found the matter proved as gross misconduct and determined that PC Lathwell should be dismissed without notice and placed on the policing barred list.
Deputy Chief Constable Ash Tuckley said: “PC Lathwell’s conduct fell well below the high standards that we expect all of our police officers to uphold so it is only right that he was dismissed without notice at the hearing yesterday.
“No one is above the law and I hope this case reassures the public that we are determined to root out corrupt practices in our profession without fear or favour.”