A BBC presenter has told how she was left feeling suicidal after being duped into an ‘abusive’ relationship with an undercover Met Police officer, only to discover he had a wife and family.
Jackie Adedeji, 31, had just graduated from university and moved to London when she met the officer, who called himself Dan, during a night out in Shoreditch.
But Dan was a fake name – the officer was actually married and had a son, yet he pursued a years-long relationship with Jackie in which he alleges she was subject to coercive control and abuse.
When years later she reported him to police, she discovered he had already been reported for gross misconduct after he texted a 17-year-old girl he helped get home from a party back in 2010.
Regardless of Jackie’s accusations of sexual misconduct, one of the officers involved had formerly stood trial for rape, something she said broke her trust in the system.
She alleges the investigating officer on her case then told her not to pursue her complaints through the police, adding she could always ‘have your own Me Too moment’ online.
After waiting nearly two years after first reporting the officer who manipulated her, Jackie says she has been told there is little evidence to continue with a criminal case because the officer’s shift records are unable to be located.
Describing the heartbreaking impact of her ordeal, Jackie told MailOnline: ‘I didn’t want to be here anymore.’
BBC presenter Jackie Adedeji, 31, told MailOnline she was left feeling suicidal after ‘Dan’ initiated an ‘abusive’ relationship with her in 2016
Jackie Adedeji described her relationship with the officer as ‘coercive’ and ‘sexually abusive’
Jackie first met Dan while on a night out in Shoreditch with a friend. She told how, while lost in the city, having only just moved to London, two men approached them and identified themselves as undercover police officers.
After a brief conversation, Jackie said the Met Police officer – who told her he was 34 but was actually closer to 40 – told her: ‘I won’t let you leave without getting your number first’.
The officer then pursued a romantic relationship with Jackie that lasted more than two years, and saw the officer frequently call her to meet him and have sexual contact with her while he was on duty.
Jackie told MailOnline how Dan initially raised concerns by refusing to take photographs with her and even telling her to duck and hide when in his car on their first date.
A pattern of ‘manipulative’ behaviour soon emerged, she said, including him confiscating her phone to delete all messages between them and frequently texting her to find out where she was.
She said the officer would interrogate her about what she had told her friends and family about him, and told her to stop listening to them.
‘The relationship became really coercive and sexually exploitative,’ Jackie said.
‘He stripped me of my innocence and preyed on my naivety. He took advantage of me.
‘He was constantly asking me for naked photos of myself, telling me he was a police officer and I could trust him.
‘He would ask to meet me all the time when he was out working and would make sure to meet out of sight of CCTV cameras to perform sex acts.’
As well as meeting in the Shoreditch area while Dan was on duty, she said he would often book hotels for them to stay in – and she never went to his home, although he came to hers.
Jackie said when she found out the officer had been using a fake name and actually had a family, she was so shocked she collapsed on the floor
Dan was arrested by police for misconduct in a public office, and Jackie was informed she was the second woman to come forward about him in six months
‘He was very manipulative, our relationship was very confusing,’ Jackie told MailOnline.
‘If I ever asked to see his police ID he’d refuse and make out I was a ‘firecracker’ who ‘had a temper’. I was scared.
‘He was making me feel like what he wanted me to do was what I wanted too. He kept telling me he couldn’t trust me and made me question myself and what I was feeling.
‘I tried to leave him loads of times but he always found a way to make us get back together.’
Jackie said when she found out the officer had been using a fake name and actually had a family, she was so shocked she collapsed on the floor.
‘I exploited myself for him, and he lied to me and psychologically manipulated me for years,’ she said.
‘He was basically a stranger. It was like I was a game to him.’
The discovery marked the end of the relationship, and after undergoing therapy she decided to report his behaviour in 2023. By that time, Dan had moved from the Met to the City of London Police, so his behaviour was investigated by them.
Dan was arrested by police for misconduct in a public office, and Jackie was informed she was the second woman to come forward about him in six months.
The second woman reported how, after attending a party and being victim to a crime there in 2010, the officer took photos with her before initiating a relationship with her, despite her being just 17.
‘Dan’ – then 32 – had added her on Facebook and messaged the teenager, saying: ‘You still OWE me a drink for that missy!!’
Jackie said he also called her ‘missy’ throughout their relationship.
Dan resigned as a police officer before the 2024 panel found him guilty of gross misconduct in the then-teenager’s case, describing his behaviour as ‘a type of coercion’ and ‘an abuse of power and authority’.
Jackie says she has not had an update on the criminal investigation for around three months, and has lost faith in the police
But her ordeal was far from over. After her case had been passed to an investigating officer, she told MailOnline how the investigator took her out for coffee and began complimenting her appearance.
‘It was so weird,’ Jackie said. ‘He had seen the contents of my phone, all the naked photos I had sent to Dan.
‘He said I looked well and was very photogenic. He told me he had sent a photo from my initial interview to his colleagues to show them.
‘He said I’d be better off having my ‘own Me Too moment’ than moving forward with reporting Dan to police.’
After the meeting, Jackie said she didn’t sleep for two days and was left with suicidal thoughts.
‘I felt like I couldn’t challenge him. I was back in the same position, I felt like I was screaming into a box and no-one could hear me,’ she said.
Jackie went to London’s Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman, who advocated for the officer’s removal from the case. An officer from Professional Standards was assigned to take her statement – but when Jackie googled him, she found that he had previously stood trial for rape. He was not convicted.
Jackie says she has not had an update on the criminal investigation for around three months, and has lost faith in the police.
Describing the impact Dan’s behaviour, and the reporting process, has had, Jackie told MailOnline: ‘I had anxiety and was frequently calling the Samaritans. It had me questioning my entire life, I didn’t want to be here anymore.
‘I was not sleeping, I wasn’t eating, I was crying every single day, I was losing it basically.
‘I’m still confused about my own self and I’m sensitive to my emotions. But now I get to show up and be who I am.
‘I’ve not had a voice in this but now I do. He can’t step on me anymore and make me feel small.
‘There’s no right way to be a victim.’
In the summer of last year, Jackie was told by City of London Police that the case file had been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision, but officers later admitted this wasn’t the case.
The case had instead been sent for early advice, and almost a year later it has still not been sent for a charging decision.
City of London Police told MailOnline the criminal investigation into Dan is still ongoing.
Misconduct proceedings into the second officer, who is said to have discouraged Jackie from pursuing the case, are ongoing and being carried out by British Transport Police.
A spokesperson for City of London Police said: ‘Last year a criminal investigation began following the arrest of an officer for Misconduct in a Public office.
‘A separate complaint against the same officer was also investigated under Police Conduct Regulations, resulting in him being found guilty of gross misconduct. He is no longer a serving officer.
‘We cannot disclose details of the criminal investigation that may prejudice the case but accept the victim’s complaints and fully recognise the importance of trust and confidence in how our investigations are carried out.
‘We referred all of the victims’ concerns to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for consideration, and after receiving their advice it should continue to be investigated locally, we have listened to the concerns raised and passed the complaint to a separate force (British Transport Police) for independent review.’
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘While the vast majority of our officers work every day with professionalism and integrity to keep London safe, it is right they are asked to uphold the highest of standards and are held to account when they fail to do so.
‘The Government’s new vetting regulations close a gap in the law and allow us to ensure only officers who maintain a suitable standard of clearance throughout their career can police the streets of London.
‘This is fundamental to public trust and confidence and in the last 18 months around 100 officers have been sacked or resigned after having their vetting removed
‘We are working extremely hard to build an environment and culture where the public and colleagues feel empowered to report concerns and know that those concerns will be addressed and dealt with effectively.’
For help and support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org
