In 2026, James Stillman, a 32-year-old former police officer from Chard, was jailed for two years and four months after abusing his position to target vulnerable women for sexual gratification.
James Stillman, of Chard, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to three counts of misconduct in a public office. The court heard that in 2025, while serving as a police officer with Devon and Cornwall Police, Stillman targeted two vulnerable women. During a welfare check at a domestic abuse victim’s home, Stillman used a colleague’s name, refused to leave, and persistently demanded sexual acts before subjecting her to sexual assault. Digital investigations following his arrest revealed that in the weeks prior, he had also sent explicit messages to a teenager demanding sexual images.
The victim detailed severe ongoing psychological trauma, nightmares, and a total loss of trust in law enforcement, subsequently referring the 28-month sentence to the Attorney General’s Office under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Devon and Cornwall Police formally apologised to the victim after admitting it had initially presented her with an inappropriate non-disclosure agreement in the early stages of the investigation.
Following his conviction and custodial sentence, Stillman was dismissed from the police force and placed on the Police Barred List to prevent future employment in law enforcement.
He remains subject to statutory public protection monitoring and mandatory notification requirements to manage ongoing risks to the public.
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