A former detective constable who 'exploited' vulnerable woman has avoided prison after a judge heard no one else could care for his young child during the coronavirus lockdown.
Stuart Lunt, 36, abused his position by trying to start sexual relationships with four women he had met in the course of his duties. 'Flirtatious' and 'sexually explicit' messages were sent to the victims, while the married father-of-two also engaged in sexual activity with one, a suspect in a fraud case he had worked on.
Prosecuting, David Toal, told Monday's hearing at Liverpool Crown Court that Lunt had contacted the women, all of whom were either victims, witnesses or suspects to crimes, over a two-year period.