Police officer Clare Sherman-Potts (pictured leaving the misconduct hearing), 25, has been sacked after starting a relationship with an offender
A 'promising' female police officer has been sacked for starting a sexual relationship with a serial offender whom she was trying to steer away from a life of crime.
Clare Sherman-Potts, 25, who was employed by Suffolk Police, was supposed to be looking after the prolific offender in a bid to stop him committing further crimes.
But the 'exemplary' officer began a two-month affair with the man - known only as Mr A - after meeting him at a party during their supervision programme.
She has now been sacked after admitting gross misconduct.
At a misconduct hearing, Chief Constable Gareth Wilson told the former officer the decision had been 'really tricky' because of glowing references given by senior colleagues.
But the hearing heard how Ms Sherman-Potts had 'embarrassed' the force and broken clear misconduct rules with her behaviour.
'You have clearly got an absolute exemplary record. This one has probably been the toughest because you have such a glowing record,' he said.
'However I have to take account not only the lessons she may have learnt but also the impact upon the importance of the policing services we provide.'
He added: 'I have little doubt that she regrets the association with Mr A and recognises the gravity of her actions.'
When asked if she wanted to comment, Miss Sherman-Potts told the hearing she wanted to apologise to Suffolk Police.
The hearing heard how Miss Sherman-Potts became the case manager dealing directly with the offender on March 11 this year. At the time, he had 89 previous convictions over a ten-year period and had just been released from prison.
PC Sherman-Potts then started the affair, following 'her heart instead of her head' when they saw each other at a party.
She continued to work with him but later persuaded a colleague to manage Mr A because she claimed he was not co-operating with her.
The hearing heard how Miss Sherman-Potts told her bosses about the affair with the criminal on June 4.
After being suspended six days later on full pay, Ms Sherman-Potts temporarily moved in with the offender before the relationship ended.
The hearing heard how Miss Sherman-Potts had now made an allegation of domestic abuse against the offender.
The 'exemplary' officer, who was employed by Suffolk police, began a two-month relationship with the man after meeting him at a party. She has now been sacked after admitting gross misconduct
Sgt Mick Richardson, the secretary of the Suffolk Police Federation who spoke on behalf of Miss Sherman-Potts at the hearing, said she had been 'totally honest' with the investigating officer about the relationship.
He said her behaviour had not compromised police systems or operations, other than causing 'temporary embarrassment' to the force.
He added: 'She succumbed to a moment of weakness which could lead to the loss of a promising career. She fully admitted it.'
PC Sherman-Potts followed 'her heart instead of her head' when they met through a mutual acquaintance
Sgt Richardson added that she had 'excellent commendations' for her work and previously had 'a bright future' in the force with one superintendent describing her as 'brilliant'.
He said: 'She openly stated that she struggled to resolve the conflict between her professional and private life.
'She offers an unreserved apology for any embarrassment that has been caused by her behaviour. She said lessons will be learned and it will never be repeated.'
She followed her heart instead of her head which she obviously now bitterly regrets
Sergeant Mick Richardson
Nick Wilcox, a barrister representing Suffolk Police, said Miss Sherman-Potts started working in Ipswich for Suffolk Police's Joint 180 Integrated Offender Management scheme last November.
The scheme involves trying to turn around the behaviour of persistent offenders 'by 180 degrees' through working with other agencies and helping them to change their lifestyles.
One of the team's aims is 'helping to improve the public's confidence in the criminal justice system.'
Miss Sherman-Potts, from Ipswich, has been with the force since 2010.
Mr Wilson accepted that PC Sherman-Potts had made a full disclosure of the relationship after being advised to go to the force's professional standards department.
He added: 'She acknowledged that she knew it was an inappropriate relationship to be in when she was supervising him as a prolific offender while she was a serving police officer.
Miss Sherman-Potts, who was not legally represented, has the right to appeal the decision. The hearing was held at Suffolk Police HQ at Martlesham, near Ipswich (pictured)
'She continued to supervise him Mr A even though she was in a sexual relationship with him.'
Miss Sherman-Potts, who was not legally represented, has the right to appeal the decision.
The hearing was held at Suffolk Police HQ near Ipswich. She refused to comment afterwards.
But Sgt Richardson added: 'She is not surprised by the outcome. She faced dismissal or a final written warning and it was clear that the line between the two was finer than many people thought.
'It was said in mitigation that she followed her heart instead of her head which she obviously now bitterly regrets.
'She is going to get on with the rest of her life away from the police service and will hopefully recover from the stress she has been under for the last four months.'
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