A former Metropolitan Police officer has been convicted of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy by enticing him to a hotel room with alcohol and the TV show “Love Island.” The ex-PC, Grant Fulker from Surrey, who was dismissed from the force in 2024, was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Friday for sexual assault and attempted sexual assault.
Before his trial, Fulker, aged 32, who was previously part of Specialist Operations, admitted to three counts of misconduct in public office. These offenses involved sending inappropriate WhatsApp messages to two boys while he was a volunteer police cadet leader for the Met.
According to reports, on the night of the incidents in February 2024, Fulker bought four bottles of wine and invited a teenager to his hotel room to watch “Love Island.” Allegedly, while intoxicated, Fulker touched the young boy and attempted to touch his genitals over his clothing.
Following the victim’s disclosure to his parents, Fulker was promptly arrested and charged within the same month. Commander Pete Stevens expressed his repulsion, condemning Fulker’s actions as despicable and an abuse of trust. Stevens commended the boys for speaking up, leading to a swift investigation, arrest, and subsequent dismissal of Fulker from the Met just a month later.
The restructuring of the volunteer police cadet program has been mentioned, aiming to enhance policies and safeguarding practices following the incident. Fulker was dismissed in March 2024 after expressing his intention to plead guilty to misconduct in public office. The disciplinary panel found him guilty of gross misconduct, resulting in his immediate dismissal and placement on the barred list, prohibiting him from future employment with law enforcement bodies.
Sentencing for Fulker is scheduled for Thursday, 27 February.
