Former PC Jordan Masterson faces prison for taking advantage of a woman in need, igniting widespread condemnation and raising questions about police integrity

Jordan Masterson, a Cheshire Police constable, was sentenced to three and a half years in jail. This punishment came as a result of his actions involving a vulnerable mother after he responded to her emergency call. Chester Crown Court found Masterson guilty of misconduct in a public office, marking a significant breach of trust and duty.

On the night of December 28, 2021, Masterson arrived at the woman’s residence. Shortly after his arrival, he deliberately turned off his body-worn camera. The court heard that while the woman’s children slept upstairs, Masterson engaged in sexual activities with her, which were described as consensual. However, the power dynamics and Masterson’s role as a police officer complicated the consent.

The prosecution presented the case as a clear abuse of power. Masterson, 28, had long aspired to be a police officer, a dream now shattered by his actions. Judge Michael Leeming emphasized Masterson’s responsibility for his downfall, rejecting any notion of Masterson viewing himself as the victim. The judge highlighted the irreversible impact of Masterson’s actions on the woman, known as Female G, who expressed her profound trauma and loss of trust in the police.

Testimonies revealed that Female G was intoxicated and distressed during Masterson’s visit, following her call to report a disturbance. Masterson’s defence claimed he felt “powerless” in the situation, alleging that the woman initiated the encounter. This claim did little to sway the court’s view of his culpability.

Further complicating Masterson’s defence was his return to the woman’s home after the incident, despite her distress signals and his prior acknowledgement of her vulnerability. This action, coupled with his subsequent resignation from the Cheshire Constabulary in 2022, painted a picture of a man attempting to escape the consequences of his actions.

Defence arguments highlighted Masterson’s mental health struggles, including PTSD stemming from childhood trauma, as factors in the case. Yet, these arguments did not mitigate the severity of his misconduct or its impact on public trust in the police.

The case has led to Masterson’s indefinite barring from policing, a decision underscored by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Catherine Bates, an IOPC regional director, condemned Masterson’s actions as an abuse of his position, stressing the importance of integrity in policing and the damage done to public trust.