Police officer found guilty of rape more than 2 decades after attack

A general pic of a police officer <i>(Image: Pixabay)</i>

(Image: Pixabay)

A West Yorkshire Police officer has been found guilty of rape.

PC Jo Lavender, 45, who worked for West Yorkshire Police in the Leeds district before his suspension, was convicted at York Crown Court of raping a woman in 2002.

He is due to be sentenced on November 3.

The victim reported the rape in December 2024, more than two decades after the attack.

PC Lavender joined West Yorkshire Police in 2005, three years after the rape.

'Admiration for bravery shown'

Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: "The victim has lived with the trauma of what PC Lavender did to her for two decades before coming forward to report this offence in 2024.

"I would like to express my admiration for the bravery she has shown.

"I do not underestimate the courage it takes to report something like this, and even more so knowing that by that time the man responsible was a police officer."

'We will listen and we will act'

Ms Wilkins urged others to come forward if they have experienced similar offences.

She said: "Please know that we will listen and we will act; it doesn’t matter who the perpetrator is or where they may work.

"Following this court case, we will now continue with misconduct proceedings to ensure PC Lavender is barred from working in any role in policing in the future."