A "MANIPULATIVE" former Bolton police officer stalked and harassed female colleagues, a court heard.

James White, aged 31, sent sexually inappropriate messages to female officers via Facebook using fake accounts he had set up in the names of other serving male officers, Halton Magistrates Court in Cheshire was told.

Detectives launched an internal investigation after the female officers reported the messages, and found that White had used his mobile phone to access the fake Facebook accounts.

Investigators said the incident became a criminal offence when they found the messages were fake and that the offender was a serving police officer with "insider knowledge".

The messages were traced to White after officers found a pattern in the wording of some messages, and he was arrested and his home was searched.

Both the male officers, whom White had posed as, and the female officers who had received the messages were said to be embarrassed and upset by the incident.

White pleaded not guilty to the offences, and a four-day trial was held after which he was convicted.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, he must complete 200 hours unpaid community work, and pay £1,000 costs.

A restraining order was also imposed, banning White from making contact with the complainants for two years. and he will be subjected to a supervision requirement.

Damion Lloyd, senior crown prosecutor, said: "James White was a serving police officer who used his position and IT knowledge to send sexually inappropriate messages to female officers via fake Facebook accounts that he set up in the names of serving male officers.

"His offences were embarrassing and upsetting to both the men that he posed as and the women who received the messages.

"Despite initially admitting his guilt, White went on to deny everything and put his victims through the ordeal of a four-day trial.

"He was obstructive at each step of the investigation, refusing to hand over his mobile phone and then refusing to give the investigation team the password to it.

"This is an offence in itself under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, so I authorised charge on that as well as stalking and harassment.

"This has been a very thorough investigation by Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service built a strong case that the magistrates accepted, rejecting White's claims of innocence.

"White has since resigned from Greater Manchester Police. White is a manipulative and deceptive man and I am sure his victims will be extremely glad that that this case has been brought to a successful conclusion."

White was convicted of two counts of stalking, one of harassment, one of sending a communication conveying an offensive or indecent message and for failing to tell the investigating team the password to his mobile phone.