Ex-cop exposed himself to vulnerable crime victim he was meant to help — then dodges jail with suspended sentence

Published 15 October 2026, 10:38

• Robert Veza, 45, turned up at the Sheffield woman's home late at night, kissed her and exposed himself
• Veza's offending is 'inexcusable', said DC Gary Godwin — 'there is no place in South Yorkshire Police for people like him'
• The victim, who has mental health problems, bravely exposed the affair in a letter to a senior officer

A former trainee police officer who kissed and exposed himself to a vulnerable crime victim he had been assigned to support has escaped an immediate custodial term, with a 16-month prison sentence held in suspension for 18 months, along with costs and surcharges imposed.

Robert Veza, aged 45, had been assigned to a neighbourhood policing team in Sheffield when he made initial contact with the woman in 2023, following a crime she had reported.

Over the months that followed, his messages to her became increasingly familiar.

In early 2024, Veza arrived at her home after dark, with her children on the upper floor, under the pretense of assisting her with a separate crime report.

Before leaving, he kissed the victim and exposed himself to her.

Veza repeatedly reached out to and met with the woman, whose vulnerability stemmed from mental health problems, and he initiated a sexual relationship with her that was inappropriate and went on into summer 2024.

The case was uncovered after the victim wrote to a senior South Yorkshire Police officer, revealing that a serving officer had visited her home on multiple occasions and that the contact had turned sexual.

Upon receiving the letter, the officer referred it to the force's Professional Standards Department, triggering an immediate investigation.

Veza was identified, arrested and suspended from duties in September 2024, and was summonsed to court in February 2026 to face a charge of misconduct in a public office.

He initially denied the offence, but on 28 September he pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in a public office — the day his trial was due to begin at Sheffield Crown Court.

He was sentenced on Wednesday 14 October.

Veza was in his probation period at the time of his offending and resigned from the force in January this year.

An internal misconduct investigation, which ran alongside the criminal proceedings, will progress despite his resignation.

The officer in the case, DC Gary Godwin, commented: "Veza's offending is inexcusable. There is no place in South Yorkshire Police for people like him - he took advantage of a vulnerable member of our community who should have been able to place her trust in him."

Godwin praised the victim for her "dignity during this investigation" and thanked her for supporting the effort to bring Veza to justice.

"I know this must have been particularly difficult in the knowledge the perpetrator was a serving police officer at the time and it was brave of her to reach out to another officer to tell us what had happened," he said.

"Colleagues across the force are as shocked by Veza's actions as members of the public will be, and we will always investigate such cases without fear or favour," Godwin added.

The force says it will root out officers, staff or volunteers who abuse their position of power — whether the motivation is financial or sexual in nature, or stems from hatred or prejudice.

Concerns can be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers' Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service online or by calling 0800 085 0000.