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A former police officer has admitted indecently assaulting a teenage girl who reported him to his own force four decades later.

David Surridge, 70, was a special constable with Warwickshire Police when he began buying the girl gifts, alcohol and taking her for days out where he would sexually abuse her, police said.

The victim reported the offending in 2022 after watching a television programme about grooming.

Surridge, of Coventry, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault against a teenage girl in the 1980s at Warwick Crown Court, the force said.

Surridge, of New Green Park, met the girl when she moved to a house near to him in Warwick, Warwickshire Police said.

He later became a full time officer.

In an interview, she told officers she had blamed herself for what happened but now realised she was in fact a victim.

Det Con Heather Webb said her thoughts were with the victim who had shown "great bravery in reporting her ordeal after so much time has passed".

"To be clear if you are a victim of sexual abuse, you are never to blame and there are people who will listen to you and offer support."

Det Supt Paul Thompson said Mr Surridge would now "rightly face the consequences".

He is due to appear before Warwick Crown Court on 27 September.

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