West Midlands PC sucked colleague's finger in string of sexual misconduct

PC Robin White, who retired from West Midlands Police ahead of his hearing, was found guilty of gross misconduct for repeated unwanted sexual behaviour toward two junior female colleagues.

West Midlands officer sucked colleague's finger, misconduct panel finds

PC Robin White sucked a female colleague's finger during a series of unwanted sexual advances toward two junior women officers, a misconduct panel has ruled. The Daily Express reports that White, who retired from West Midlands Police weeks before the August 10 hearing, was found to have abused his position for sexual purposes, amounting to gross misconduct.

The panel, chaired by former Warwickshire Police chief constable Debra Tedds, concluded that White's conduct was "deliberate, intentional and targeted," directed at two "much younger and significantly less experienced" female colleagues, referred to only as Witness A and Witness B.

In late April 2024, White grabbed Witness A's finger in a station briefing room, placed it in his mouth and "sucked it from the bottom to the top" before smiling and laughing. Both women were also repeatedly kissed on the head by White.

On 6 June 2024, while alone with Witness B in a patrol car, White raised the prospect of buying her a handbag using a "payout" he was expecting after an accident, asking words to the effect of: "If I buy you one, what can I expect in return?" He then referenced Wednesbury Road — described to the panel as a red-light area frequented by sex workers — saying he could go there "for a fiver."

Two days later, White allegedly approached Witness B in a station refreshments room and said words to the effect of: "When are we going to get our hot naked bodies together?"

Both witnesses "seemed to underplay the events complained of," describing White's behaviour as "not sexualised" but "creepy and odd." The panel nonetheless concluded his conduct was sexually motivated and constituted "a subtle form of harassment."

Tedds stated: "The harm caused is mainly the reputational damage to the police service which already suffers from the public concern as to the profession's attitude to women and young girls. The public would have no confidence in the former officer dealing fairly and professionally with female victims given his conduct."

She added that there was "ongoing public concern as to the attitude towards the treatment of women and girls by police officers," and that White's actions "exacerbate such concern." The panel also noted evidence of "low-level psychological harm" to both witnesses.

White was found to have breached professional standards relating to authority, respect, courtesy, and discreditable conduct. The panel stated he would have been dismissed without notice had he still been serving. It acknowledged his "long service and the commendations he received early in his service," but these did not alter the outcome.

White did not attend the hearing, was not legally represented, and had no police federation representative present on his behalf. He retired from the force in July 2026, ahead of the proceedings.

Source: Daily Express