Police officer who had sex with vulnerable single mother while on duty avoids jail

A police officer who groomed two vulnerable women and had sex with one of them while on duty has been spared jail.

Erling Leask, 56, befriended two vulnerable single mothers in the early 2000s while working for Northumbria Police.

He later quit the force and pleaded guilty in May to one count of indecent assault and two counts of misconduct in public office.

Leask had a consensual sexual relationship with one of the women over a period of months.

On Friday, Leask was sentenced to 20-months imprisonment suspended for two years at Newcastle Crown Court.

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One woman decided to report Leask, from Newcastle, to police years later after seeing him leave a betting shop.

Following this report, police contacted a second woman after the investigation revealed evidence of her complaint of indecent assault when Leask forcibly kissed her.

She described how the aftermath of the assault led her to drop out of college and left her feeling scared.

Debbie Breen, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North East, said: “Leask grossly abused his power as a police officer, selfishly taking advantage of two vulnerable women in the pursuit of his own sexual gratification.

"He showed no regard for the immense impact his actions had on them.

“I commend the bravery of both women in reporting Leask and supporting the prosecution’s case.”

Leask is required to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and participate in rehabilitation activity requirement for a maximum of 50 days.