Former officer convicted of child indecent assault

A former police officer has been convicted of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 1997. The case came to light when the victim reported the incident to authorities in 2020. Paul Harold, now 47, was with Staffordshire Police but resigned just nine months after starting. At the time of the crime, he arrested the girl for shoplifting in Newcastle-under-Lyme. While she was in custody, he wrote his phone number on her hand and later contacted the care home where she lived. Harold met the girl in his car and, on one occasion, took her to his home where he assaulted her. The investigation began after the victim courageously shared her story almost 23 years later. Staffordshire Police expressed concern over Harold's actions, stating that he abused his position of trust as a police officer. Deputy Chief Constable Jon Roy praised the victim for coming forward and emphasized the importance of police integrity. Harold will be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on April 28.