Police Officer Jailed for 40 Months for Blackmail and Perverting the Course of Justice

Strategic Insights -

Police Constable Marie Thompson, aged 29, was the officer in charge of an investigation into a man arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. However, she used the information gained from interviewing him to anonymously blackmail him, demanding £3,500 and falsely telling him she had been unable to find the perpetrator. Thompson was jailed for 40 months after pleading guilty to blackmail and perverting the course of justice. The court heard that Thompson had lied to the man, saying she would investigate the matter, but instead, she used her position to extort money from him. Thompson's actions were described as "shameful" by Detective Constable Alexandra Furniss, who said there was no place in the force for police officers who fail to live and work by their values and standards.

Key Takeaways:

  • PC Marie Thompson was the officer in charge of an investigation into a man arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.
  • Thompson used the information gained from interviewing him to anonymously blackmail him, demanding £3,500.
  • Thompson lied to the man, saying she would investigate the matter, but instead, she used her position to extort money from him.
  • Thompson pleaded guilty to blackmail and perverting the course of justice and was jailed for 40 months.
  • Thompson's actions were described as "shameful" by Detective Constable Alexandra Furniss.
  • Thompson had a severe gambling disorder and was in considerable debt at the time of the crime.
  • Thompson resigned from the force on October 15, 2025, after being served a Regulation 13 notice.
  • The Regulation 13 notice is issued to probationers deemed unfit to serve as a police officer.

Statistics:

  • 40 months: the length of the prison sentence given to PC Marie Thompson for blackmail and perverting the course of justice.
  • £3,500: the amount of money demanded by Thompson from the blackmail victim.
  • 2: the number of emails sent by Thompson to the blackmail victim, including one with the subject "I'm so sorry".
  • 6: the number of weeks it took for Thompson to lie again to the blackmail victim, saying that the sender of the email and text message could not be traced.
  • 1: the number of Regulation 13 notices served to Thompson at the direction of Chief Constable Lauren Poultney.

Sources:

  • Leeds Crown Court
  • BBC News
  • Yorkshire Post