On 29 June 2018, my client, Nicola established that her home had been burgled – and, to her distress, strongly suspected the perpetrator to be her ex-partner. Nicola called West Yorkshire Police and later, a uniformed Officer attended. The Officer obtained a statement from my client and inspected the intruder’s entry point (a downstairs kitchen window). Nicola was then advised that a “Scene of Crime Officer” (CSI) would attend so as to take fingerprints/other forensic evidence.
Approximately 1-2 hours later, a uniformed male arrived, who my client now knows to be Daniel Cordwell. He introduced himself as a Crime Scene Investigator.
Nicola invited CSI Cordwell in, showed him to the open kitchen window, and proceeded to make him a cold drink.
CSI Cordwell remained on the premises for approximately 30 minutes but as time went on, Nicola became more and more uncomfortable in his presence. Once CSI Cordwell had completed his examination of the window, he said to Nicola, “I’m trying to work out how someone as gorgeous as you would end up with someone like him” – referring to Nicola’s ex-partner. He then followed up on this totally inappropriate comment with the blatant invitation – “I’d like to see you again under different circumstances”.
By this point, CSI Cordwell was standing directly in front of Nicola, looking into her eyes, and she felt as if CSI Cordwell was going to kiss her.
CSI Cordwell then said, “Are you sure you are going to be okay?” Nicola, who wanted to disentangle herself from this creepy situation as quickly as possible, told him that she would be fine and that she was not vulnerable, but CSI Cordwell insisted – because this was no doubt what he was hoping to exploit – “You are vulnerable, you’ve been burgled”.
CSI Cordwell then put his hand on Nicola’s shoulder and kissed her on the cheek, twice. Nicola was shocked and didn’t know how to immediately respond.
CSI Cordwell then packed up his equipment but whilst doing so, complimented my client’s 2-year-old daughter, and then bent down and kissed her. He then kissed her 5-year-old son. Cordwell then approached Nicola again, put his arm around her and whilst looking into her eyes, played the ‘white knight’ card – “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Nicola insisted she would be, still in a state of shock and just desperate for this man to be out of her house and away from herself and her children.
Soon afterwards however, Nicola noticed that CSI Cordwell was still sitting in his van outside her house. She now felt so uncomfortable she called her current boyfriend, and then, after 20 minutes or so, left the house with her children.
Nicola subsequently reported what had occurred to West Yorkshire Police, and the Professional Standards Department became involved.
In July 2019, Nicola received the welcome news that CSI Cordwell had been disciplined and dismissed from service, but other disturbing revelations had come to light as part of that process: it was established by the misconduct investigation that back in 2011 CSI Cordwell had used the same ‘tactics’ at the home of another female victim of burglary and had then commenced a sexual relationship with that woman. Yet further, at the same misconduct hearing in July 2019, it was noted that CSI Cordwell had struck up inappropriate relationships with two other women he had met through his work duties.
The misconduct hearing also noted that CSI Cordwell’s ‘disregard for professional boundaries’ had actually been highlighted and raised by West Yorkshire PSD at an Integrity Discussion back in September 2017 – but they had nevertheless continued to allow him to serve, and to groom – or attempt to groom – vulnerable female victims of crime, for sex.
Nicola brought a claim and after protracted Court proceedings, West Yorkshire Police agreed a settlement of £17,000.
My client’s name has been changed.
Read more: Abuse of Power for Sexual Purpose by Police Staff
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