A former South Yorkshire Police officer who had a sexual relationship with a vulnerable crime victim has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Robert Veza, 45, of Buchanan Road, Sheffield, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, October 14.

Veza was also given a 10-year restraining order and ordered to pay prosecution costs and surcharges.

DC Gary Godwin, the officer in the case, said: “Veza’s offending is inexcusable. There is no place in South Yorkshire Police for people like him – he took advantage of a vulnerable member of our community who should have been able to place her trust in him.

“I’d like to praise the victim for her dignity during this investigation and thank her for supporting us to bring Veza to justice. I know this must have been particularly difficult in the knowledge the perpetrator was a serving police officer at the time and it was brave of her to reach out to another officer to tell us what had happened.

“Colleagues across the force are as shocked by Veza’s actions as members of the public will be, and we will always investigate such cases without fear or favour.”

Veza was serving on a Sheffield neighbourhood policing team in 2023 when he first contacted the victim to discuss a crime she had reported.

Over the following months, his messages became increasingly familiar. In early 2024, he visited the woman’s home late in the evening, claiming he wanted to help with another crime report.

Before leaving, he kissed the victim and exposed himself to her, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Veza continued to contact and visit the woman, who had mental health problems and was considered vulnerable, before instigating a sexual relationship that continued into summer 2024.

The offending came to light after the victim wrote to a senior police officer, disclosing that a serving officer had visited her home several times and the relationship had become sexual.

The letter was referred to the force’s Professional Standards Department, which immediately launched an investigation.

Veza was identified and subsequently arrested and suspended from duties in September 2024. He was summoned to court to face the charge of misconduct in a public office in February 2026.

He initially denied the offence but on 28 September he pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in a public office on the day his trial was due to begin at Sheffield Crown Court. 

South Yorkshire Police said: “An internal misconduct investigation has been ongoing alongside the criminal proceedings and following his conviction this will now progress despite his resignation.”