Ex-PCSO jailed for threatening letter and computer misuse

A former police employee has been jailed for computer misuse and malicious communication offences, when he tried to frighten someone he knew into unwanted sexual activity.

Mohammed Miah (27) who was a serving Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) at the time, posted an anonymous letter through the victim’s letterbox telling her she must perform sexual acts with a married man, or her children would be taken away from her. The letter also included graphic sexual content and told the victim he had been watching her.

When the victim discovered the letter, she contacted Miah privately for advice, in the knowledge that he worked for the police.

Miah went round to see her and dissuaded her from reporting it to the police. He offered to report the letter to his sergeant, something he did not do. He then asked the victim a series of inappropriate questions before leaving.

When the threat was reported, the police investigated Miah’s use of the police computer systems. This investigation revealed that he had completed checks relating to the victim and her family. None of these searches were lawful or relevant to Miah’s role as a PCSO.

Mohammed Miah pleaded guilty to three offences of computer misuse and one offence of sending a threating letter at Leicester Magistrates Court in April 2023. He was sentenced on Thursday 13 to 14 months in prison and given a 5-year restraining order to prevent him contacting the victim.

Neil Hoodless from the CPS said: “Mohammed Miah abused his position, not only as someone the victim turned to in trust, but also in his capacity as a police officer. His conduct in using his job to cover up this abusive conduct was manipulative in the extreme.

“Sensitive personal information of this kind is given strict protection and public servants follow strict professional codes of conduct to access it. Mohammed Miah’s actions were a criminal breach of these standards that thousands of others follow with integrity. The fact that he did it to support such abusive behaviour is even more concerning. He has now faced the consequences of his actions.”