A FORMER Dorset Police officer has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting misconduct in public office for pursuing an intimate relationship with a domestic abuse victim he met while carrying out his duties.

James McClements, 35, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, June 16, after previously pleading guilty to the offence. He was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

The court heard McClements met the woman in November 2023 while involved in an investigation concerning domestic abuse allegations.

He later provided the victim with his personal phone number, made inappropriate contact and pursued a sexual relationship with her.

It was also revealed that on one occasion he discouraged the woman from reporting contact she had received from the alleged domestic abuse perpetrator in order to protect himself.

The matter came to light in November 2024 and was reported to Dorset Police.

McClements was subsequently arrested and interviewed under caution.

He resigned from the force in April 2025.

A police misconduct hearing held in May this year found he had committed gross misconduct.

The panel concluded he would have been dismissed had he not already resigned.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell described the former officer’s actions as a serious abuse of trust.

She said: “For any member of the police service to pursue a sexual or improper relationship with a victim is an abuse of their position.

“The victim was putting her trust in the police and it is dreadful that this former officer did not maintain professional boundaries and broke this trust.”

She added that McClements’ behaviour “fell well below the standards expected of a police officer” and praised the victim for the courage she had shown throughout the investigation.

Dorset Police said its Professional Standards Department carried out a “robust investigation” and reiterated that reports of unethical behaviour by officers and staff would be thoroughly investigated.