A PCSO who covered Dacorum and is potentially facing jail says he has been treated unfairly and should not have faced court action.
PCSO Julian Randall-Stratton, 45, could be jailed on August 27 after he was found guilty at Luton Crown Court of misconduct in a public office when he sent inappropriate messages to female members of the public he had met on duty.
The officer, from Hemel, also gave his victims lifts, got them to try on his uniform and took photographs of them.
Randall-Stratton, who has been in the police since 2007, says he should not have been arrested and should have been dealt with internally.
He said: “I respect the jury’s decision as they made their judgement on the information they were told. I’m also sorry to the victims as I didn’t realise I had upset them.
“At the time I didn’t think I had done anything wrong and although I accept I’ve been an idiot, I do not believe I should have been arrested.
“The court process has left me looking like a sex pervert when that couldn’t be further from the truth. I want to help people and that’s initially what I thought I was doing.
“I am sorry for my actions and the upset I’ve caused.”
Assistant chief constable Bill Jephson said: “Abuse of position by police officers is never acceptable as it causes harm or distress to the very people we should be protecting and keeping safe.
“Julian Randall-Stratton’s conduct fell woefully short of the high standards of integrity and behaviour the public rightly expect from their police service. His conviction demonstrates that Hertfordshire Constabulary actively roots out misconduct and will press criminal charges where appropriate, or instigate internal disciplinary procedures.
“The vast majority of our officers and staff display the very highest standards of conduct. They are dismayed by the actions of their former colleague whose conduct has damaged the trust and confidence the public should have in the police.”
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