Livid crook's two-word blast to judge at getting same jail-time as corrupt police officer girlfriend

Their demeanour in the dock could not have been much different. Corrupt ex West Midlands Police officer Lorna Pennycook was a picture of shame.

The 38-year-old cried and trembled in despair through a protracted three-day sentencing hearing which concluded at Birmingham Crown Court today. Meanwhile her former boyfriend Anthony Kennedy, who she had supplied sensitive force intelligence to, smirked and shook his head in apparent discontent at the whole saga.

The 43-year-old 'professional' criminal and convicted lorry-jacker has been here many times before. But he could hide his annoyance at being handed the same four-year sentence as Pennycook, despite the fact her actions were considered to be worse than his.

READ MORE: 'Broken' West Midlands police officer cries and shakes as she's jailed with crook lover

A sarcastic smile betrayed his face along with another bemused wobble of the head. As Kennedy chuntered away to the dock officer leading him out of court the words 'f***ing horrendous' could be heard.

They had got together in 2016 after meeting on a dating site. By that time Kennedy had already been jailed for eight years for a gang lorry jacking. He had wanted to break up with Pennycook over the laughable concern that being with a police officer would damage his reputation with his criminal pals.

But desperate Pennycook, who the court was told is too eager to please people, convinced Kennedy it would be to his advantage to be in a relationship with a police officer. The 'infatuated' constable also warned she would not leave him alone as she texted her bad boy boyfriend 'One does not chose who to love' and promised she had 'accepted everything about you'.

Kennedy was even jailed during their relationship in 2018 for the theft of two more lorries. Between 2017 and 2021 Pennycook illegally raided police systems around 200 times to gain favour with him.

Initially she did so out of curiosity and her own volition realising that she could lure Kennedy in by feeding him intelligence. But eventually he 'exploited' her feelings and took advantage, making specific requests for details which he passed on to his criminal mates.

Pennycook had started using a burner phone for illegal contact with her boyfriend by February 2021 as she realised how serious the situation was. The pair were arrested in April 2021 and she resigned from the force shortly after.

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Pennycook, from Walsall, admitted misconduct in a public office and Kennedy, from Tipton pleaded guilty to assisting or encouraging misconduct in a public office. Judge Paul Farrer KC stated Pennycook had carried out a 'gross breach' of the trust placed in her, adding her actions had 'damaged confidence' in the police.

He concluded the culpability (blameworthiness) and harm caused by both defendants was 'high'. Judge Farrer ruled that Pennycook's actions were more serious mainly because she had held the position of trust and instigated the misconduct in the first place of her own accord.

He took a starting point of six years for Pennycook but he reduced it down to the final term of four years after taking into account the fact she was 'very vulnerable', due to her mental health, and giving her substantial credit for an early guilty plea. Judge Farrer started at five years for Kennedy but was only able to reduce it by a 12 months - to the same four-year term as Pennycook - because he had very limited personal mitigation and less credit for pleading guilty. Evidently, Kennedy was not impressed.