Former Thames Valley Police officer convicted of sex offence

Friday, 4 August 2023 07:00

A former Thames Valley Police constable has been convicted of a child sex offence that occurred in Northamptonshire.

Luke Christopher Horner, aged 24, who was based at Amersham police station, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in penetrative sex with a child aged 13-15 at Northampton Crown Court.

The conviction follows an incident that took place while Horner was off-duty in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on 11 June 2023, involving the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl.

The matter was subsequently investigated by Northamptonshire Police.

Horner was arrested and taken into custody on 13 June 2023, and suspended from duty the same day. Horner resigned from Thames Valley Police on 26 July 2023.

Thames Valley Police made an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which decided that the matter should be subject to a local investigation by the force. This is underway and misconduct procedures will now follow.

Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs of Thames Valley Police said: “We are all appalled by Luke Horner’s crimes, and our thoughts are with the young woman who has been affected and her family.

“The bar at which standards are set in policing is rightly high. Anyone who falls below those standards in this way betrays the public’s trust and confidence in policing and the values of the profession as a whole. I welcome his admission of guilt and resignation from the force.”

He will be sentenced on 8 September 2023.