PC Steve Walters
PC Steve Walters was jailed for four years. He was sacked by West Midlands Police after he admitted sexually assaulting two women WMP

A PC was jailed and sacked from his force after he admitted sexually assaulting two vulnerable women in what his boss called "one of the worst violations of policing integrity I've ever seen".

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Former West Midlands officer Steve Walters, 48, assaulted two women on 8 February and 15 April last year. One was assaulted in the back of a police patrol car and the latter in her own home after she'd dialled 999 asking for assistance after her son went missing.

Walters, from Swadlincote, south Derbyshire, was jailed for four years when he appeared at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday (4 October). He was dismissed from the force for gross misconduct the day before.

Walters, who was based at Sutton Coldfield, assaulted his first victim while he was on patrol in a marked police car. He and a colleague offered a lift to a woman who was walking home from a night out but during the five minute journey Walters – who was a front seat passenger – reached into the back and touched the woman's thigh. She reported the incident several days later after confiding in a work colleague who is a former police officer.

The second offence happened when Waters was on duty and in uniform on 15 April when he attended the home address of a woman who had reported her teenage son missing.

The schoolboy returned home but as Walters went to leave the house, he pushed the woman against the hallway, kissed her and placed his hand inside her clothing. He was arrested on 6 May and initially denied the allegations.

Forensics experts found his DNA on the pants and vest of the woman he'd attacked in her own home yet he still maintained his innocence, claiming the DNA evidence was as a result of sneezing near her.

However, once his trial day came around on 5 September he changed his mind and entered guilty pleas to two counts of sexual assault at Stafford Crown Court.

West Midlands chief constable Dave Thompson said a police uniform "should be a beacon of comfort and protection". "PC Walters has engaged in criminal activity that has shocked me... in 26 years police service this is one of the worst violations of policing integrity I have ever seen," he said. "People at a point where they needed our help were abused by this officer who used his uniform and power to enter people's lives. I am deeply sorry for what has happened and apologise on behalf of the force."