24 April 2023 , 20:30
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A policeman has been found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting teenage cadets while in public office.
Pc Adnan Ali is reported to have used the training scheme as a "grooming playground", his trial at Liverpool Crown court heard.
The father of one who served with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had denied the offences, but was convicted on Monday of five counts of sexual assault and 15 counts of misconduct in a public office.
The charges relate to incidents, between 2015 and 2018, involving young men and women enrolled on GMP's volunteer police cadet scheme, the force said.
The court heard Ali, from Trafford, Greater Manchester, was arrested and suspended in October 2018 after the force received a complaint that he had been behaving inappropriately towards a 16-year-old boy.
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Ali was convicted at Liverpool Crown court (PA)After his arrest, electronic devices were seized revealing thousands of messages and identified additional victims, whose evidence was used to secure the charges against him.
Ali, who has already been dismissed and barred from policing following a misconduct hearing in April last year, will be sentenced at a later date.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane, of GMP, said: "Whilst Ali is responsible for committing these crimes, no-one should be subjected to crime or misconduct during their contact with police officers and staff, like these young people were - for that, and in acknowledgement that Ali could have been better supervised and managed, we are sorry.
"My thanks go to the victims and witnesses who bravely supported the prosecution which secured today's verdict.
"Though trials are a fundamental part of the criminal justice system, the impact they can have on those involved and with whom cases resonate is not underestimated. We will ensure they are supported for as long as they need.
"Alongside the criminal and misconduct investigations, this case initiated a full review of GMP's volunteer police cadet scheme.
"With national oversight, improvements have been and are continuing to be implemented to ensure cadet leaders are the role models they are expected to be and that they do not pose a risk to anyone."