Leeds PC Joe Lavender convicted of rape committed before joining West Yorkshire Police

PC Joe Lavender, 45, was found guilty at York Crown Court of raping a woman in 2002. Sentencing is scheduled for 3 November.

Leeds officer convicted of rape dating back to 2002

A serving West Yorkshire Police officer has been found guilty of raping a woman more than two decades ago, bbc.co.uk reports.

PC Joe Lavender, 45, of Castleford, was convicted by a jury at York Crown Court of attacking the victim in 2002 — three years before he joined the force in 2005. Lavender, who was working in the Leeds district at the time of his suspension, has been bailed ahead of sentencing on 3 November.

West Yorkshire Police said it would pursue misconduct proceedings to "ensure PC Lavender is barred from working in any role in policing in the future".

Det Ch Supt Tanya Wilkins, head of the Professional Standards Directorate, said the victim had lived with the trauma for two decades before coming forward to report the offence in 2024. "I would like to express my admiration for the bravery she has shown," Wilkins said. "I do not underestimate the courage it takes to report something like this, and even more so knowing that by that time the man responsible was a police officer."

Wilkins urged other victims not to be deterred by the identity or profession of their attacker. "Please know that we will listen and we will act. It doesn't matter who the perpetrator is or where they may work."

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)