Local Housing Estate Cop Jailed for Rape

Michael Graham served on a squad covering council properties in Chiswick

A police officer who had special responsibility for housing estates in Chiswick has been jailed for sixteen year following his conviction for rape and sexual assault.

49-year-old Michael Graham was sentenced this Friday (17 June) at the Old Bailey for offences that took place in Uxbridge and whilst the officer was off-duty.

Graham had been part of a team of officers who were tasked to deal with crime on the borough's housing estates. His designated area was Chiswick, Brentford and Syon. The estate police officers unit was jointly funded by Hounslow Council and the Mayor of London.

When police were called to Uxbridge on 2 September 2014 they arrested Graham for common assault and threats to kill. They later found the victim, a woman in her thirties, in a nearby park in a distressed state. She made a number of allegations of rape and as a result of those Graham was further arrested, and suspended from duty.

Graham denied the allegations but police discovered that audio of some of the offences had been captured on a sleep app which had been installed on the victim's iPhone and these were played in Court.

His victim gave evidence from behind a screen about her nine month ordeal in which she was repeatedly tied up with rope and raped as a punishment by Graham. She says she didn’t come forward to report him because she thought nobody would believe her. Graham had told her, 'I am a police officer, I can do what I want' and that people would believe that she was mad if she made any claims against him.

Detective Constable Stephen Kelly, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "I would like to praise the victim for her bravery in coming forward and reporting her ordeal at the hands of Graham to the police. Without her evidence, the offences Graham committed could not have been investigated and he would not be facing a lengthy prison sentence."

Chief Superintendent Matt Gardner, of the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, said: "Michael Graham targeted a vulnerable woman, and attempted to use his position as a police officer to scare her into keeping quiet about his criminal behaviour. The public should be reassured that no police officer can hide behind their occupation as a way to break the law and get away with it.”

June 17, 2016