A POLICE officer allegedly kissed and groped a vulnerable domestic abuse victim and ‘groomed’ others, a jury has been told.

Preston Crown Court heard how PC Ihsan Ali, who worked as an immediate response officer in Blackburn and Burnley until his arrest and subsequent suspension last year, is accused of misconduct in public office in relation to four women.

The jury was told how 40-year-old Ali initially went to the homes of his four alleged female victims to legitimately investigate complaints they had made about being the victims of crime.

But in each case Ali, who lives in Bacup, allegedly gave the complainants his personal mobile phone number and began sending them inappropriate texts with the intention of developing ‘emotional or sexual relationships’.

Prosecuting, Sarah Johnston said Ali sent his alleged victims photographs of himself in a swimming pools, told one he wanted to be her bodyguard and told another he was looking for a new wife and she would make a good one.

Ms Johnston said: “It is through his role as a police constable that he came into contact with each of these four women. The particular circumstances of each of them being the victim of crime is what he used to initiate and further justify communication with them. He then takes advantage of their vulnerability to pursue emotional and sexual relationships with them.

“The public expects and deserves to have trust and confidence in their police officers and when police officers abuse their position for a sexual purpose, particularly in respect of vulnerable people, such behaviour does represent a fundamental betrayal of the public and the values for which the police service stands.”

The court heard how Ali went to the first complainant’s house Burnley in May 2016 in relation to threats she had received from a former work colleague.

Ms Johnston said Ali texted the woman with updates on her case for around a week after the initial visit. But the prosecutor said Ali continued to message her on WhatsApp from his personal mobile until November 2016, which the victim thought was ‘strange’ and showed he was ‘after something more’.

In texts Ali allegedly sent he told the woman she ‘looked mmmm’ and that she was a ‘wonderful woman’.

She texted a friend saying: “How do you end up being stalked by someone when you go to make a complaint?”

In September 2016 Ali went with a colleague to investigate an allegation that her former partner of one of the complainants had breached his restraining order. The court heard Ali initially messaged the woman to keep her updated on the progress of her case but then allegedly started contacting her on his personal mobile number.

Ms Johnston said: “He told her he was looking for a new wife. He told her she would make a good wife.”

The court heard that in October 2016 Ali went to the home of an older woman in Whitworth who had made a complaint against her ex-partner.

After exchanging hundreds of text messages with the woman off his personal mobile phone, Ali allegedly went to the complainant’s house. After sharing a mutual kiss, Ali is said to have groped the woman and made sexually suggestive comments. When the woman asked him to leave Ali is alleged to have kissed her again.

In her statement to the police, the alleged victim said she felt as if Ali had groomed her and had asked her to send photographs of herself to him.

The court heard Ali went to the final alleged victim’s house in March 2017 to investigate an allegation of domestic violence.

After initially messaging her off his work phone to keep her updated about her case, Ali is said to have began sending her inappropriate messages on his work phone, including messages about using contraception.

One message read: “Even if there was a little trouble I reckon you would definitely be worth it.”

He also sent the alleged victim photographs of himself in a swimming pool.

Ali was arrested at the alleged victim’s house after she had invited him round to confront him about his inappropriate behaviour.

Ms Johnston said Ali accepts he sent the women text messages but said his behaviour doesn’t amount to misconduct.

Ali pleaded not guilty to four counts f misconduct in judicial or public office between May 26, 2016, and April 8, 2017.

(Proceeding).