Former PC admits sexual communication with child

A former police officer has pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a 14-year-old girl he met while on duty.

Matthew Hunt, 27, who worked for Northamptonshire Police in Response Policing was sacked from the force in December 2024.

At Leicester Crown Court on Friday, Hunt, from Earl Shilton, near Hinckley, admitted to the offence. He had previously admitted one count of misconduct in a public office.

Police said the offences occurred in May and June 2024. He is due to be sentenced at the same court on November 20.

Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet had previously said Hunt was a "disgrace to the force and the wider police service".

At a police disciplinary hearing, it was revealed he would have been dismissed without notice if he had not already resigned from the force.

He was also entered on the College of Policing barred list.

Det Con Donna Fleming said: "Matthew Hunt's actions represented a serious breach of the trust placed in him as a police officer and were completely incompatible with the standards expected of those who serve the public.

"We remain committed to identifying and removing anyone who falls below those standards, and we will continue to ensure that officers who commit criminal offences are robustly investigated and brought before the courts."

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