(Image: File Photo)
Police have praised the courage of a woman whose evidence led to a York jury convicting a police officer of rape.
In addition to a prison sentence and registering as a sex offender, PC Joe Lavender, 45, of Castleford, also faces a disciplinary hearing as his police force seeks to have him barred from any policing role in future.
He raped the woman before he joined West Yorkshire Police, for whom he was working in Leeds when he was charged and convicted.
He was suspended from duty when he was charged.
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.
“If anyone has been a victim of rape or any other sexual offence, I would urge them to please report it. 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.”
It was the second time he had stood trial on the charge.
A previous jury had been unable to reach a verdict.