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

A 'broken woman' ex police officer has been jailed alongside her criminal former boyfriend who she provided sensitive intelligence to. Lorna Pennycook accessed West Midlands Police computer systems around 200 times between 2017 and 2021 to 'ingratiate herself' with professional crook Anthony Kennedy after meeting him on a dating site.

Ironically it was he that wanted to end their relationship first due to the potential damage to his reputation with his criminal friends of being with a police officer. But Pennycook convinced him it would be 'advantageous' for him to stay with her.

She instigated her own corrupt actions at first before Kennedy seized the opportunity and began to encourage her. Pennycook, aged 38, from Station Road, Walsall, admitted to misconduct in a public office having resigned from the force in 2021 following her arrest.

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She was jailed for four years at Birmingham Crown Court today after crying and trembling throughout the sentencing hearing. Kennedy, 43, of Davis Avenue, Tipton pleaded guilty to assisting in the commission of misconduct in a public office. He was also sentenced to fours years, ironically smiling and muttering 'f****** horrendous' as he was led out of the court.

Judge Paul Farrer KC concluded Pennycook was 'infatuated' with Kennedy who 'exploited' her feelings. He said: "Police officers are expected by the public to work for the common good. Your conduct represented a gross breach of that trust."

Pennycook joined the force in 2009 and had served as a constable for the organised crime and gangs teams for the east and west of Birmingham, as well as acted as sergeant between 2020 and 2021. She met Kennedy on a dating site in 2016 by which time he had already been sentenced to eight years for a gang lorry jacking in Oldbury.

He was then jailed for two years and eight months during their relationship in 2018 for his involvement in the theft of two more lorries. Pennycook had illegally accessed police systems to obtain information on the incidents.

She often raided the information pages for warrants and wanted suspects in Sandwell, where Kennedy was from, even though she had no operational responsibility for the area. She also searched for incidents involving Kennedy himself and his known associates as well as details on vehicles, stabbings and shootings.

On two occasions she provided her boyfriend with the telephone numbers which had made reports of illegal poker games in 2021, in breach of Covid-19 restrictions at the time. In February that year Kennedy also supplied Pennycook with a burner phone because she had become fearful about the 'precarious' position she had put herself in. The pair were arrested in April 2021.

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Judge Farrer concluded that the information Pennycook provided was likely to have assisted criminals and interfered with police investigations. He stated her actions had 'damaged confidence' in the police when trust in officers was of the 'utmost importance if society is to function properly'.

Samantha Forsyth, defending Pennycook, stated ex-colleagues had provided 'glowing' references about her. She said: "Prior to this offending she was a hard-working, conscientious and diligent officer who was well thought of by her colleagues."

The barrister confirmed Pennycook had accepted responsibility for her own actions and did not blame Kennedy, despite commenting upon her arrest that 'he's ruined my life'. Ms Forsyth continued: "She was incredibly stupid. No-one knows better than her now how stupid she has been. She has effectively lost everything.

"She has lost virtually everything. Her employment, potentially her pension, her good name, her reputation, her standing in the community."

Ms Forsyth stated imprisonment would negatively impact the chances of Pennycook's 'dream' of starting a family with her new partner. She added her mental health difficulties made her 'very vulnerable' as she described her client as a 'broken woman'.

Rob Cowley, for Kennedy, emphasised that Pennycook was the one who 'crossed that red line' in the first place without instigation or encouragement from Kennedy. But he accepted at some stage the 'temptation was dangled in front of him and he took advantage of it'.

The barrister conceded Kennedy was a 'professional' criminal in the past but said from 2018 he made real steps to change his ways, in order to play an active role in his son's life. Mr Cowley confirmed his client had worked as a tyre fitter for the last six years, financially supported his elderly parents who are in ill health, and 'put some distance between himself and criminality'.

The prosecution followed an investigation carried out by West Midlands Police Anti-Corruption Unit under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime division said: "Lorna Pennycook became infatuated with Anthony Kennedy, and provided him with extremely sensitive information over a four-year period.

"There is evidence that Kennedy encouraged her to conduct the criminal searches on some occasions, but Pennycook must also take responsibility for her shameful actions, which have risked damaging public trust and confidence in police officers.

"She persuaded Kennedy that she could assist him when he attempted to break off the relationship and must now face the consequences of passing confidential material to a convicted criminal. The CPS will not hesitate to bring charges against those who abuse their position in such a dishonest way."