Officer sacked after stalking woman and taking more than 41 candid photos

An officer who made a woman feel “violated” after following her while she was shopping, has been dismissed following his conviction of stalking and harassment. Police Constable Steven Hamilton, from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), took a total of 41 photographs of his victim while she shopped in Tesco on two separate occasions. The 49-year-old was convicted of stalking and harassment on June 17 at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court and was issued with a restraining order as well as being ordered to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work. Images found on the former officer’s mobile phone made his victim feel “distress, anger and violated”, the court heard. Hamilton, who was based in Sedgeley Park, Prestwich, was also made to pay £620 costs and an £85 victim surcharge. Disciplinary proceedings were brought against the officer, and he was dismissed without further notice following a special case hearing on August 2. A GMP spokesperson said: “PC Steven Hamilton breached the standards of professional behaviour expected by all employees of GMP. “He displayed behaviour and actions that could undermine the public’s confidence in the police service, which is simply unacceptable. “A full investigation was carried out and following a special case hearing, an independent panel deemed his behaviour to be gross misconduct and he was dismissed.”