A Police officer has today (Thursday 9 Jan) been jailed for sexual activity with a child.
Christopher Semak, an officer in south Birmingham, was sentenced to six years behind bars at Stafford Crown Court following a four week trial.
The crimes took place between April 2010 and November 2011 when the girl, who was known to the man, was aged 14 and 15.
The 33-year-old officer was arrested on 24 January 2012 from his Kings Norton home the same day the girl, then aged 16, revealed that she had been systematically assaulted over the course of two years.
A major police investigation was immediately launched and the officer was suspended from the force with his access to police buildings restricted.
As part of that lengthy enquiry in which texts and emails were scrutinised, detectives did not findany other victims other than the girl who was known to Semak outside of work.
Detective Superintendent Tim Bacon, from the force’s Public Protection Unit, said:”Christopher Semak has today been found guilty of sexual activity with a child; it is clear that he groomed the victim for his own sexual gratification; his actions were disgraceful for any person let alone a man who, when he became a police officer, swore an oath to protect people.
“Throughout his trial Semak failed to take responsibility for his own actions.
“The verdict of the jury today reflects their belief that this was in fact a tissue of lies designed to undermine the victim and save himself.
“The sexual exploitation of children is child abuse; in this case the offender is a police officer who whilst not on duty at the time betrayed the trust that the victim and others had in him to take advantage of the victim and in doing so has caused her severe emotional trauma.
“I hope that he will reflect on his actions and the emotional scars he inflicted on his victim and those around him.”
In addition to the jailing, Semak was handed a 10 year sexual offences prevention order. Among the conditions attached to the order Semak is banned from working or having unsupervised children. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.
Semak became a police officer in 2010. With criminal proceedings now completed the case will go before a special police disciplinary panel where senior officers will determine his future with the force in line with national guidelines.
West Midlands Police has an international reputation for bringing child sex offenders to justice − including crimes committed many years ago.
Specialist detectives from the force’s Public Protection Department investigate each case thoroughly and work with other agencies to support victims and their families throughout the criminal justice process.
A range of measures can be implemented in court to protect victims of both recent and historical crimes. This includes giving evidence via video link or behind privacy screens.