Commendations for rape investigators

Commendations for internet chatroom rape investigators

A team of police officers praised by a crown court judge for a meticulous and unrelenting investigation into the rape of a 13 year old girl by a predatory paedophile, have been commended by their senior commanding officer.

The girl, from a village near Leamington, was the victim of John McIver from High Wycombe who posed as another teenager in an internet chat room before visiting the girl at her home and raping her. He is currently serving a life sentence after being found guilty of rape and indecent assault by a jury at Warwick Crown Court.

South Warwickshire Area Commander, Chief Superintendent David Whitehouse has commended the investigation team which includes officers from neighbouring police forces, the CPS and psychologists who gave vital advice and guidance.

Detective Inspector George Stepney lead the extensive and complex inquiry codenamed Operation Languish.

It involved officers from South Warwickshire CID, West Midlands Police, Hertfordshire Police, Thames Valley Police, the Crown Prosecution Service and specialist doctors from Warwickshire Health Service.

A trap was set for McIver by officers who pretended to be his victim to lure him back to the girl's address. It was during this contact that the suspect made unsolicited comments that amounted to a full confession of the rape. This proved to be a central issue in the trial that followed McIver's arrest.

Judge Marten Coates who sentenced McIver in November 2004, commended the police investigation which he described as complex, difficult, meticulous, fair and unrelenting.

Chief Supt Whitehouse said: "I am very proud of all those involved in this operation which pushed back the investigative boundaries that could have hindered the inquiry and the judicial process.

DI Stepney has been recommended for a Chief Constable's commendation for his co-ordinating role in a large scale inquiry.

Area Commander's commendations will be presented to: Detective Constables Clare Creswell, Karen Ashfield, Sarah Bulmer, Adrian Shaw, Detective Inspector Paul Littlehales and Chief Inspector Neil Hewison from Warwickshire Police; Peter Tooke and Louise Pierpoint from Crown Prosecution Service, Detective Inspector McKirdy and PC David Smith from Hertfordshire Police; Detective Inspector Bob Angel and DC Paul Keeping from Thames Valley Police and two detectives from the West Midlands Police High Tech Crime and Paedophile Unit.