CHESHIRE’S crime commissioner has condemned the actions of former Cheshire Police officer Ian Naude who used his position to gain access to vulnerable young girls as despicable and disgusting.

On Thursday, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found Naude guilty of rape and sexual assault, as well as four charges of attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence and one charge of arranging a child sex offence, relating to five complainants aged between 12 and 15.

David Keane, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, said: “This has been a highly distressing case and my thoughts are very much with the victim and her family. The despicable and disgusting behaviour displayed by Ian Naude is not the behaviour expected from any officer within Cheshire Police. Police officers are there to protect the public but, sadly, this former student officer decided to abuse his position and take advantage of a vulnerable young girl.

“In this case, Cheshire Constabulary was found by the IPOC to have followed the national vetting policy in its recruitment of Naude. However, I will be taking some time to review processes around this case to see if there is any learning to feed back to colleagues nationally. One particular area I would like to review is how criminal allegations made against a candidate in the period between when their vetting is completed and their employment commences can be immediately identified and appropriately acted upon.

“I remain committed to one my key priorities of protecting victims and vulnerable people and I will also be seeking assurances from the acting chief constable that Cheshire Constabulary’s amended vetting and training procedures ensure standards are maintained and that officers are in no doubt of the conduct expected from them.”

Ian Naude, who was working as a student officer for Cheshire Police at the time of the assault in October 2017, was described during the two-week trial as a "selfish and cruel paedophile" who was obsessed with taking the virginity of teenage girls and joined the force with the intention of meeting vulnerable victims.