Former PC sentenced for making silent calls to ex

A former police officer who made repeated silent calls to his ex-partner has been given a suspended jail sentence.

PC Ashley Barrett, a specialist operations trainer with West Yorkshire Police, was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and 150 hours of unpaid work, after being found guilty of harassment without violence.

Sheffield Magistrates' Court was told that Barrett, who was based at Carr Gate in Wakefield, made silent telephone calls to the woman between October and November 2024 after their relationship ended in January that year.

Barrett, 41, who had denied the calls stating his phone had been hacked or corrupted, was also handed a three-year restraining order.

Det Ch Supt Tanya Wilkins, head of West Yorkshire Police's Professional Standards Directorate, said: "None of our officers are above the law.

"They are subject to the same laws as any other member of the public.

"We expect the highest standards from our officers and staff and those who fall short will be held to account."

West Yorkshire Police said following an accelerated gross misconduct hearing on Tuesday, it was found that Barrett, of Manor Park Drive, Pontefract, would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned.

He was also barred from the profession.

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