Sex offender rumbled after pretending to be 'police officer on dating apps'

dailystar.co.uk:

police officer on dating apps and used fake warrant cards to travel for free has been jailed for 28 months.Bradley Baker, 28, possessed his own uniform and lied to his ex-partner, family and friends that he worked for British Transport Police.The case comes just days after the Metropolitan Police has suggested giving officers warrant cards that the public can scan with their smartphones to verify their identity.Birmingham Crown Court heard the fantasist had a uniform to pose as an officer on dating apps and also used a fake warrant card to travel for free on the railway and bus networks.Baker, of Handworth, Birmingham, was rumbled after he was reported to North Wales Police for a separate offence.He was reported as a serving BTP Special Constable based in Birmingham but enquiries quickly established he had never worked for the force.Officers searched his home on February 1 last year and seized a police uniform including a warrant card badge and holder displaying 'DC Baker'.Two fake BTP warrant cards and multiple police lanyards were also recovered by the force.Baker also tried to throw laptops out of his window as officers arrived, which were found to be unregistered.This breached a sexual harm prevention order which stated that any electrical device in his possession must be registered with police.To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.A laptop which was later found to be stolen from his previous job as a journalist was also recovered as well as amounts of cannabis.Baker pleaded guilty to possession of police articles and two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which was handed to him after committing three sexual offences involving children in.