By Samantha Jones-
A former West Midlands Police student officer has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a vulnerable 13-year-old girl he had met online.
Haider Siddique, who was on long-term sick leave, was arrested after a bus driver spotted him acting inappropriately towards the victim in March last year.
Police were eventually alerted, and the victim identified in the process.
Twenty-two-year-old Siddique resigned while in custody and on Tuesday (January 31) pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to commit a sexual act, child abduction and grooming .
Siddique has been remanded for sentencing on March 3.
West Midlands Police said Siddique joined the force in August 2021, but had been off sick since November that year and was never deployed to an operational role.
Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said: “This was a sickening criminal act by a former student officer, who appeared to be offering support to this vulnerable young girl but was in fact grooming her sexually.
“We did not hesitate to arrest Siddique and have carried out a robust and meticulous investigation to establish the full extent of his abuse.
“We are committed to rooting out any member of staff who engages in criminality whenever we find evidence of it.
“Siddique’s crimes will have significantly impacted upon his victim, and I know his fellow officers will be repulsed by his behaviour.”
After the criminal case has concluded, the force said it will convene a ‘former officer’ misconduct hearing.