A police officer has been found to have deceived a TV presenter by assuming a false identity to engage in a relationship with her, concealing the fact that he was already committed to another family, according to a misconduct panel.
Jackie Adedeji, aged 31, testified during the hearing that PC Ian Steel had misrepresented himself for over two years, using her to satisfy his racialized sexual desires. The panel determined that Steel had committed gross misconduct and stated that he would have been terminated if he hadn’t already resigned.
Speaking to the BBC, Ms. Adedeji, known for her work on investigative TV show “Untold” and appearances on BBC3, expressed a sense of liberation after a decade, saying, “I feel free for the first time in 10 years. The shame and silence have lifted. I have rediscovered my voice. I am standing up for the voiceless 22-year-old within me.”
The misconduct hearing, conducted by City of London Police, where Steel had transferred in 2022 before resigning a couple of years later, revealed that Ms. Adedeji first encountered Steel in June 2016 at the age of 22 while socializing with friends in Shoreditch, east London.
At the time, Steel, 38, was living with a partner and child, working as a plain-clothes officer. He falsely identified himself as “Danny Stevens,” an undercover officer without a family.
Their relationship persisted until its termination in 2021, during which Steel met with her on several occasions while on duty. Steel had previously refuted various accusations, including engaging in sexual activities in an alleyway.
All charges against Steel were substantiated, leading to his placement on the police barred list, prohibiting his return to law enforcement. Ms. Adedeji, who chose to forego anonymity, reported him to the Independent Office for Police Conduct three years ago.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Adedeji remarked, “It feels empowering because it’s a classic case of he said, she said, and my account remained consistent. There is no benefit in lying, and truth prevails in the end.”
Encouraging others to speak out against mistreatment, she emphasized, “It is never too late to advocate for yourself if you have been wronged. Silence is not the answer. Healing begins with disclosure.”
Ch Supt Sanjay Andersen, in charge of professionalism and trust within the City of London Police, acknowledged the arduous process for Ms. Adedeji and commended her bravery in coming forward and pursuing the case.
“The findings of gross misconduct highlight behavior that significantly deviates from the standards the public rightfully expect from police officers,” he stated.