A Police Officer Who Left His Post to Meet His Loves has been Jailed for Nine Months

Ricci Giff, 38, father-of-two who works as an armed diplomatic
protection officer and whose job included guarding Downing Street,
left his patrol area checking some of London's most sensitive
buildings on three occasions in late 2011 to meet Melissa Ramsden, 37.
Married Giff, of Sandy, Bedfordshire, admitted three counts of
misconduct in a public office.
Southwark Crown Court heard on one of the occasions, Giff photographed
his girlfriend naked and wearing his gun.
The trysts also included one meeting at the Peel Centre at the
Metropolitan Police's training centre in Hendon - five miles from his
patrol area.
Others took place during night shifts at her flat, when he told his
partner he was going to meet a friend in Paddington.

The court heard on one occasion his unattended police motorcycle was
found outside Ms Ramsden's flat by officers who raised the alarm in
case he was in danger, only to see him come out and rideoff.
Ms Ramsden, who worked for the Israeli government tourism office in
the capital - part of Giff's patrol route - committed suicide in
December 2011.
He was not implicated in her death, the court heard, but photographs
and text messages found by investigating officers on her phone
revealed their relationship.
He was jailed for what Judge Anthony Pitts said was behaviour that
could not be tolerated by an officer in such an important role.
Claire Howell, prosecuting, said: "There were large periods of time
where he was trusted to be within the patrol area ready to respond if
required.
"He was fully armed and supposed to be part of a high-profile unit
guarding high-profile targets.
"He, more than anyone else, would have appreciated the potentially
catastrophic results if anything had happened and there was a delay in
the response time."
The court also heard he met Ms Ramsden on other occasions, including
one December 2011 shift when he was on duty outside Downing Street -
but they were allowed because they happened during legitimate breaks
in his 12-hour shifts.
After the Downing Street shift he went to her flat and it was then
that she posed for photos, including one in which she was naked apart
from Giff's uniform utility belt, containing his firearm and Taser
stun gun.
When they met at the Hendon police centre she signed in under a false
name. Ms Ramsden, who had a history of depression, was found dead at
her flat on December 22, days after their last meeting.
She sent him a text message the day before, thanking him for "being loving".
Their relationship was not the cause of her suicide, the court heard.
Richard Atchley, representing Giff, said he apologised for his
actions,especially to his wife and colleagues for letting them down.
He said Giff had had a difficult childhood and could have led a life
of crime but opted instead to join the police, where he had an
exemplary career until his relationship with Miss Ramsden.
This career was over because of his "foolhardy" actions, he said.
"He has paid a high price for his foolish and unprofessional
behaviour," he added, saying Giff never missed a check during his
motorcycle patrol in the capital.
Giff remains a police officer pending disciplinary proceedings, he
said, which will see him sacked.