A FORMER police officer jailed for having sex with a suicidal woman while on duty has failed in an appeal against his prison sentence.

Michael Fletcher, 31, made a bid to cut the length of his two years and eight months’ jail term. But it was rejected by Lord Justice Leveson, Mr Justice Griffith Williams and Mr Justice Holroyde.

Lord Justice Leveson said it was a ‘terrible’ case for everybody involved, as Fletcher, a father-of-two, had lost his marriage and career.

“The complainant was a vulnerable woman with serious alcohol problems, who suffered from depression and who was talking about committing suicide,” said Mr Justice Griffith Williams.

“His conduct that day amounted to a gross breach of trust and of his responsibility as a police officer.

“The vulnerable victim, who was entitled 110 per cent to rely upon the integrity of the officer, was let down by him and abused by him.”

He had been sent to the woman’s home after responding to a welfare call from an alcohol dependency service officer last July.

In February, having pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office, the former Royal Marine, of Compston Avenue, Crawshawbooth, was jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.