Housing officer sexted woman in rent arrears

A housing officer sent explicit images to a vulnerable council tenant who was in rent arrears, a court heard.

Anthony Patrick, 63, was employed by City of York Council when the offence took place in 2023.

York Crown Court was told earlier that the woman came into with Patrick, of Haslewood Close, Leeds, after he was assigned to her case.

He gave her his personal phone number and would send her council shopping vouchers she did not qualify for, as well as his own money, during sexual conversations.

The victim's neighbour said she had anxiety and child-like qualities, and would often hide bills.

She accompanied the woman to a meeting with Patrick to explain her situation, which included struggling to pay for food, electricity and gas.

Prosecutor Andrew Espley said Patrick had given the victim his personal number and in October 2023, the victim had sent him a WhatsApp message to ask for help.

Texts then became highly sexual and the victim asked for money in the form of vouchers.

Patrick initially sent £40 of his own money and £60 in Aldi vouchers from a council scheme.

He then sent £49 in council fuel vouchers, which the housing management department confirmed she did not qualify for, in exchange for explicit photos.

Patrick also asked the victim to go to his home in Leeds and offered her money to do so.

The victim confided in her neighbour about the exchange, saying she did not like Patrick but needed money and help with the rent.

The incident was reported to Charlotte Stokes, Patrick's team leader, who reported him to the police.

Patrick said he had misplaced his work phone so had messaged service s on his personal device.

He claimed he thought the victim had been a woman he met on a dating app then when he realised who she was, he sent money because he felt sorry for her.

In a statement read to the court, Ms Stokes said she had visited the victim, who felt as though she had no choice but to engage in graphic conversation in exchange for what she needed.

The line manager said she had found the meeting distressing and there had been a loss of trust in the council due to Patrick's actions.

Sentencing Patrick, Judge Simon Hickey said: "As a public servant, you were exerting power, control and coercion over a vulnerable person. A blatant breach of trust.

"The vulnerable people using the housing office should be treated with respect and dignity."

Patrick pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office.

He was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 15 rehabilitation days and 200 hours of unpaid work.

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