Rapist West Midlands police officer, 40, who woman twice is jailed (2024)

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A rapist police officer who attacked the same woman twice in a matter of weeks has been jailed for 12 years.

West Midlands Police PC Aron May, 40, was found guilty of the two sex attacks in April following a trial at Worcester Crown Court.

He has since been dismissed by the force.

The officer carried out his first attack on August 14, 2019, before preying on the same woman again just days later, at the end of the August bank holiday weekend.

He picked up and carried his victim into another room on the first occasion, ignoring her pleas for him to stop having sex with her.

His second attack was launched when she was asleep.

The victim confronted the officer about his crimes while secretly recording him, the court heard.

May unleashed a volley of abuse in the audio, which was used as evidence in the trial.

Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Martin Jackson told May that his position as a police officer was a 'serious aggravating factor' as it undermined public trust in policing.

He said: 'I note that you still maintain your denial of having committed either office. That is your privilege.

'But it leads me to this conclusion: that the continued denial shows no remorse in your actions and that while you may have insight on an abstract level about the seriousness of the offence of rape when committed by others, you have no insight into your own behaviour.'

May is understood to have been a star rugby player in his youth and even represented Wales at u18 level.

The court was told that the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, paid through its insurance for May to be defended in court by a senior lawyer, Michelle Heeley KC.

Both the judge and the prosecution expressed concern about 22 character references submitted on the officer's behalf - some apparently from police colleagues - which contained 'ill judged' and 'derogatory' comments about both the jury's verdict and the victim.

Addressing the statements in support of the officer, the judge warned that offenders often showed 'very different faces' to those who know them through work, or socially, which masked their true predatory nature.

He told May, of Romsley Lane in Romsley, Shropshire, that his offences were about 'satisfying your needs' and 'exercising control' over his victim.

May was sentenced to seven years for the first rape and five years for the second rape, with the two sentences to be served consecutively.

A restraining order was also imposed forbidding him from contacting his victim.

The judge said: 'The simple fact is that when a police officer commits a criminal offence that offence undermines the trust the public should be able to place in any police officer or member of police staff and that, in my view, is a serious aggravating factor here.'

His victim said in an earlier statement to the court: 'Once he is sentenced, I will finally be able to breathe again.

'The relief of him being found guilty was immense and I broke down.'

Although May was a West Midlands Police officer, the rapes were investigated by neighbouring West Mercia Police.

Following the sentencing, Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green of West Midlands Police said: 'Aron May was dismissed from West Midlands Police in May 2024 following a misconduct hearing which took place after his conviction at Worcester Crown Court for two counts of rape.

'Today, he has been sentenced to 12 years.

'The public quite rightly expect the highest standard of professionalism from our officers and staff and we are determined to ensure that those who breach these standards are held to account.'

Wales