A former police officer has admitted to grooming, abducting and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl while he was still a serving in the force.

Haider Siddique, who was a PC with West Midlands Police, met his vulnerable victim online and groomed her for sexual purposes while claiming to be offering support, the force confirmed.

22-year-old Siddique was only arrested after a bus driver spotted him acting inappropriately towards the teenager in March last year, while he was on long-term sick leave. He then resigned from the force while he was in custody.

Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday (31 January), he admitted the offences along with a charge of inciting a child to commit a sex act.

Following his guilty plea, he was remanded and is due to be sentenced on 3 March.

Siddique joined the force in August 2021, but had been off work since November that year, although police did not detail why.

His crimes were described as “sickening” and West Midlands Police said it had carried out a “robust and meticulous investigation” into the circumstances.

Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said: “Siddique’s crimes will have significantly impacted upon his victim, and I know his fellow officers will be repulsed by his behaviour.”

“We are committed to rooting out any member of staff who engages in criminality whenever we find evidence of it.”

Siddique will also face a former officer misconduct hearing at a later date.

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