"Survivor's Story: How an On-Duty Officer Exploited Me During a Welfare Check"

A DOMESTIC abuse survivor was “targeted” by an on-duty police officer and got him jailed for having sex with her while on a welfare visit.

Police officer James Stillman, 32, had arrived at Sarah, 42, home on September 1, 2025, to carry out a welfare check after she had reported an assault.

A domestic abuse victim has shared how the police officer who visited her for a welfare visit had sex with her Credit: Getty Police officer James Stillman was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Bristol Crown Court Credit: PA

Towards the end of the visit, the court heard that Stillman said; “I should be here to look at your injuries”, before asking her for sex.

Sarah said she felt scared and trapped after Stillman made advances, and had brief intercourse with her.

A few hours later, Sarah told her support worker before phoning the police and reporting Stillman.

Stillman was arrested immediately when reports were made to police and was suspended from duty following his initial arrest and charged with Misconduct in Public Office.

On June 19, 2026, Stillman was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after previously pleading guilty to three counts of misconduct in a public office relating to two vulnerable women.

Sarah*, a mum of one from Devon, says: “I was so confused about what had happened, I couldn’t comprehend what he had done.

“I thought, I cannot ring the police because the police have done it. I was so upset.

“This was a police officer, you trust them. When you call the police, they are your last port of call.

“He was someone who was supposed to help me and one of the people I believed I could trust.

“I was incredibly vulnerable when I was violated by this officer, but I now feel even more vulnerable. I feel scared, and I do not feel safe.”

On September 1, 2025, Stillman arrived at Sarah’s home to take a statement from her after she reported an assault.

After taking her statement, Stillman went to leave and asked: “Is there anything else I can do?”

Sarah says: “He had his hand on the doorknob, standing in front of the door frame.

“I told him no, and that he could leave.

“He then said he should be here to look at my injuries, and then asked me for sex.

“I said no, but he kept asking me. I was panicking; I was petrified.

“I thought I couldn’t get out and he was not going anywhere.”

After the brief intercourse, Stillman left the house.

Sarah wanted to ring the police, but wasn’t sure she would be believed.

She says: “I was so scared and confused. I was left thinking, ‘Why did he do this?’

“I thought that nobody would believe me. I genuinely thought nothing would happen.

“But I knew I had to do the right thing by reporting it.”

Sarah initially told her domestic violence support worker about what happened before phoning the police and reporting Stillman. They sent over two police officers to interview her.

“I had to relive it all; they took forensics from me too – it was a harrowing experience,” she says.

Stillman, who was a Devon and Cornwall Police officer, was arrested immediately and charged with misconduct in public office.

In an initial police interview, he denied that any sexual activity had taken place but later admitted that they had had sex while he was on duty.

At the time, Stillman was married with a young child.

After his arrest, Stillman’s phone was seized, and officers found he had also been texting a teenager asking her to “send pics” and telling her he wanted to have sex with her in the weeks prior.

On May 1, 2026, Stillman pleaded guilty to two charges of misconduct in public office, and had previously pleaded guilty to the third charge.

Over a month later on June 19, 2026, Stillman was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Bristol Crown Court.

“I walked into that courtroom and my legs were like jelly,” recalls Sarah.

“I saw him in the dock and dived into my seat as soon as I saw his face.

“When the judge gave him the sentence, I looked over to him, and there was no emotion.

“There was no remorse from him.”

Sarah has been left “upset and angry” after he was sentenced to 28 months in prison.

She admits that she is barely able to leave the house – and feels that Stillman should have been sentenced to longer.

The judge said that Stillman could serve only 40 per cent of his sentence.

“I feel like I have been a prisoner in my own home since then,” says Sarah. “My whole life has changed.

“Unless my support worker comes round, I don’t leave. I get food shopping delivered, and I get someone to walk my dog.

“I have felt so trapped in my own home. He has no regard for what he has done, and I feel like he could be allowed back in the community within the next 12 months.”

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: “James Stillman had a role to undertake in these instances in his trusted capacity as a police officer.

“In these separate cases, he was supposed to be supporting two women, ensure their welfare and safeguard them from coming to any further harm.

“Instead, he has abused his position of power and authority to target his victims for his own needs in the knowledge that they were unlikely to report his actions to the police.

“Both victims have shown great courage in reporting these incidents to us so they could be fully investigated, and they have remained engaged throughout the judicial process.

“We expect all our officers and staff to maintain high levels of professional standards and behaviour and Stillman has shown a disregard for this expectation, which is totally unacceptable.

“Any wrongdoing or unacceptable behaviour such as this will be subject to robust action and ensuring the highest standards and ethics within the Force remains a top priority.

“We remain committed to improving the service we provide to victims of violence against women and girls.”

*Name has been changed.