Suffolk Police Sergeant hit with restraining order against wife

Suffolk Police Sergeant, 51, hit with restraining order against fellow-officer wife who felt ‘harassed’ by his visits to former matrimonial home

  • Robert Ferguson claimed he continued to visit the matrimonial home in Ipswich because he still paid part of the mortgage and felt entitled to enter the property
  • The 51-year-old was arrested and charged with harassing his fellow-officer wife 
  • He was due to stand trial on July 1 but Crown Prosecution offered no evidence 
  • Father-of-three was given two year restraining order banning him from property

A police sergeant has been handed a retraining order banning him from the home he once shared with his fellow-officer wife. 

Robert Ferguson, an officer with Suffolk Constabulary, claimed that he continued to visit the matrimonial home in Cattsfield, Stutton, Ipswich because he still paid part of the mortgage and felt he was entitled to enter the property, despite splitting from his partner. 

The 51-year-old was arrested and charged with harassing Emma Ferguson, causing her upset, anxiety and distress on November 15 and December 12 last year by entering the home on a number of occasions. 

Robert Ferguson, an officer with Suffolk Constabulary, claimed that he continued to visit the matrimonial home in Cattsfield, Stutton, Ipswich because he still paid part of the mortgage

The father-of-three was due to stand trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court today (Friday 1 July) but the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence. 

Deputy District Judge Alex Stein handed him a two-year restraining order. 

As per the order, Ferguson is prohibited from contacting Emma, expect via solicitors or their three children, from going within 100 metres of the home and from entering the curtilage of the property. 

Prosecutor Micaila Williams told the court: ‘The defendant and complainant were a couple for twenty years until October, 2019 and are both serving police officers.

‘They have separated and Emma remains in the family home with their three children, two of whom are adults and a thirteen year-old son.

‘Mr Ferguson continues to contribute to the mortgage and although their divorce was initially civil it became acrimonious. Mr Ferguson would attend to pick-up or drop-off his son and use his key to let himself in or enter through an unlocked door.

‘She says she does not want him coming in, but Mr Ferguson said he was entitled because he is still paying part of the mortgage.’

The father-of-three was due to stand trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court today (Friday 1 July) but the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence

Representatives of Suffolk’s Professional Standards Department were in court and Adam Budworth, defending, highlighted that ‘the restraining order is going to have a long and lasting impact on his employment.’

Asking for a shorter, six month period, he added: ‘Mr Ferguson will effectively lose his employment while subject to the order.

‘Since his arrest in December, last year there has been no suggestion of wrongdoing and Mr Ferguson just comes to a lay-by outside the house to pick-up his son and drop him off.’

The judge told Ferguson: ‘You have been acquitted and you walk away an innocent man, but it is necessary and proportionate to issue the restraining order on acquittal.’

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