Stalker officer would have been sacked

MISCONDUCT HEARING TOLD HE HAD NOW RETIRED

- By KRISTY DAWSON

A FORMER police officer who was convicted of stalking would have been sacked if he hadn’t retired.

PC Mark Blanchard, previously of Northumbria Police, was sentenced for being a stalker earlier this year.

A misconduct hearing heard how Blanchard, who served as an officer for a little over 23 years, repeatedly messaged a person, known as Person A. He also sent them messages of emotional blackmail and intimated he was contemplating suicide.

The hearing heard how the former cop attempted to call Person A by phone on five occasions, visited their house at least three times and sent a number of emails to them. He also approached them in a super market and left a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of red wine and a bag of dog food at their home.

The incidents occurred between January 16 and January 27 this year. When he was arrested on January 21, he said he had “not been in a good mental place when this has happened”.