A former Leicestershire police officer, John Stuart Clough, has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after pleading guilty to stalking a female colleague and misusing police computer systems. Clough, 51, was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court for offences committed between 2022 and 2023.

The court heard how Clough, who resigned from the force in March 2024, repeatedly sent unwanted messages to the female officer and unnecessarily attended incidents where she was present. Clough also improperly accessed police databases to monitor her whereabouts, actions that eventually led to his arrest on suspicion of stalking after the victim reported her concerns.

Despite apologising for his behaviour, Clough continued his actions, causing further distress to the victim. As part of his sentencing, the former officer was also issued a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.

Leicestershire Police Chief Constable Rob Nixon commented on the case, saying: “Stalking offences of this nature understandably cause much distress to the victim. Despite being informed of the harm he was causing, Clough continued his behaviour rather than seeking advice or help.

The force has confirmed that internal misconduct proceedings will now take place following his conviction. Chief Constable Nixon stressed Leicestershire Police’s commitment to addressing such behaviour and thanked the victim for her courage in reporting the incident. He encouraged other victims of stalking to come forward and highlighted the support services available to them.

Clough’s sentencing underscores the force’s ongoing efforts to ensure that officers adhere to the highest standards of conduct, both within the police force and in the wider community.