A former Thames Valley Police officer has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a child.

A relative of Luke Horner's teenaged victim questioned how the then-serving cop could have put on his uniform knowing that he had been breaking the law by sending the 13-year-old explicit messages.

"I feel sick to my stomach every time I think about it," they said in a victim impact statement. 

Northampton Crown Court heard on Friday (October 6) that 24-year-old Horner drove an hour from his home to Rushden, Northants, to meet the girl, who he had met on social media.

He sexually assaulted the child and recorded the encounter on her mobile phone when they met on June 11. The girl's horrified mother later found the film on her daughter's phone and called the police. 

Jailing him for six years and four months, Judge David Herbert KC told former soldier Horner he had undermined the public’s confidence in the police.

"This is an utterly shameful day for you," the judge said. 

"You are being sentenced for sexual activity with a child who was 13 which involved full intercourse.

"This offending is disgraceful for any man but further to that you were a serving police officer.

"When you became a police officer you would have taken an oath to act with integrity and protect the public.

"You have failed, and undermined the public’s confidence in the police.”

Horner, who was based at Amersham Police Station, was convicted last month following an incident that took place while Horner was off-duty in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on 11 June 2023, involving the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl.

The matter was subsequently investigated by Northamptonshire Police.

Horner was arrested and taken into custody on 13 June 2023, and suspended from duty the same day. Horner resigned from Thames Valley Police on 26 July 2023.

Thames Valley Police made an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which decided that the matter should be subject to a local investigation by the force.

An Accelerated Misconduct Meeting took place on 4 September 2023, where it was found that Horner’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

Former PC Horner would have been dismissed if he were still serving and he is to be placed on the Barred List, meaning he is prevented from re-entering the police service.

Thames Valley Police's Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said: “We are all appalled by Horner’s behaviour, and our thoughts remain with the young girl and her family who have been affected.

“In parallel with the criminal investigation, and as soon as Horner’s offending came to light, Thames Valley Police took decisive action to suspend him, refer the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and instigate misconduct procedures.

“No member of our workforce is above the law and I hope the swift action taken by our force and by the courts goes some way to helping restore the public’s trust and confidence in policing.”