Thursday, 18 July 2013

A married officer who served with Devon and Cornwall Police used his access to the criminal intelligence system as a dating site. Peter Bunyan targeted victims of domestic violence and those who are single mothers for sexual affairs.

Bunyan used the forces system as a dating agency for several years. He used the information on the system to carry out background checks on women. Bunyan had affairs with five women as a result of abusing the police computer system. It is reported that Bunyan carried out the affairs while on duty and on his way to work and would often turn down his police radio.

Bunyan denies the 12 counts of misconduct which took place over 5 years from 2006 to 2011 while he worked in the Camborne and Redruth areas as a PCSO.

Bunyan admitted to having intimate relationships with four women but strongly denies having a relationship with the fifth woman. The four women included single mothers, victims of domestic violence and young woman.

Officer Bunyan has now been suspended by Devon and Cornwall police. In an interview Bunyan said the following; "I ain't proud of what I have done but I haven't done anything illegal. I was caught with my dick out … I am gutted; I love my job."

The jury was also told that Bunyan had persuaded a woman who had mental health issues to send naked photographs of herself to his email at work.

Simon Burns, prosecuting, stated; "This is not a court of morals," he said. "He [Bunyan] has abused his position as a police officer by targeting women – targeting vulnerable women – and conducting inappropriate sexual relationships with them while on duty. He [Bunyan] has abused his position as a police officer by targeting women – targeting vulnerable women – and conducting inappropriate sexual relationships with them while on duty.”