Robert Veza, 45, was a trainee officer with South Yorkshire Police when he began an inappropriate sexual relationship with a vulnerable crime victim in 2023, and has now been sentenced for misconduct in a public office
A former Sheffield police officer who embarked on an inappropriate sexual relationship with a vulnerable crime victim has been sentenced. Robert Veza, 45, was a trainee officer with a neighbourhood policing unit in the city during 2023 when he initially made contact with the woman regarding a crime she had reported.
Throughout the subsequent months, his communications with her grew progressively more personal. During early 2024, he visited her residence late at night, while her children were upstairs, under the pretence of assisting her with another crime report.
Prior to departing, he kissed her and exposed himself to her.
Veza, who remained within his probationary period with South Yorkshire Police, continued contacting and visiting the woman, who suffered from mental health issues and was in a vulnerable state.
He initiated an inappropriate sexual relationship that persisted through summer 2024, reports Yorkshire Live. His wrongdoing was exposed when the victim penned a letter to a senior officer within the force. Within it, she revealed that a serving officer had visited her residence on multiple occasions and that matters had turned sexual.
The correspondence was forwarded to the force’s Professional Standards Department, which immediately launched an investigation. Veza was identified, arrested and suspended from his role in September 2024. In February 2026 he was summonsed to court on a charge of misconduct in a public office.
He initially rejected the charge. On September 28, the day his trial was scheduled to commence at Sheffield Crown Court, he admitted guilt to one count of misconduct in a public office. On Wednesday he received a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to pay costs and surcharges.
Veza quit the force in January. An internal misconduct inquiry has proceeded alongside the criminal case. Now that he has been found guilty, it will continue despite his resignation.
DC Gary Godwin, the investigating officer, said: “Veza’s offending is inexcusable. There is no place in South Yorkshire Police for people like him – he took advantage of a vulnerable member of our community who should have been able to place her trust in him.
“I’d like to praise the victim for her dignity during this investigation and thank her for supporting us to bring Veza to justice. I know this must have been particularly difficult in the knowledge the perpetrator was a serving police officer at the time and it was brave of her to reach out to another officer to tell us what had happened.
“Colleagues across the force are as shocked by Veza’s actions as members of the public will be, and we will always investigate such cases without fear or favour.”
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police stated: “We will root out any officers, staff members or volunteers who fail to reflect the values of our organisation and fall below the standards members of the public rightly expect.
“If you have concerns about a member of our workforce who you believe is taking advantage of their role and abusing their position of power – for financial or sexual motivation, or motivated by hatred or prejudice – please contact us.”
If you’d rather not liaise directly with SYP, you can utilise Crimestoppers’ Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service via their website or by dialling 0800 085 0000.
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