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Pictured: The kiss with a prisoner that led to GMP officer's world falling apart

Choni Kenny was caught on camera while still in uniform

News
Stephen Topping Senior reporter and James Holt Senior Live and Breaking News Reporter
08:05, 24 Apr 2025
The kiss at Forest Bank Prison that brought Choni Kenny's world crumbling down
The kiss at Forest Bank Prison that brought Choni Kenny's world crumbling down(Image: GMP)

Wearing her police uniform as she locked lips with a prisoner - this was the moment Choni Kenny's world came crashing down.

Corrupt cop Kenny had flings with two criminals and used her position at Greater Manchester Police to pass information on to the pair.

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A court heard how the 27-year-old, who worked as an officer in GMP's City of Manchester division, had a 'casual sexual relationship' with Josh Whelan, 31.

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Whelan, who was in prison from 2021 to 2023, was in possession of 20 mobile phones while locked up - all funded and delivered by Kenny.

Kenny was spotted on CCTV visiting Whelan at Forest Bank Prison while still wearing her police uniform.

A still from the footage has been released by GMP, showing the pair embracing in a waiting room at the Salford prison.

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After breaking up with Whelan, Kenny went on to start a 'physical but casual' relationship with her former schoolmate Rahim Mottley, 28, who was under investigation by police and had moved to Spain.

(left to right) Rahim Mottley, Choni Kenny and Josh Whelan
(left to right) Rahim Mottley, Choni Kenny and Josh Whelan

“PC Kenny's offending behaviour was simply unacceptable," said Chief Constable Stephen Watson, of GMP.

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Liverpool Crown Court heard how Kenny used her position to access databases and pass information to both men.

As well as the phones which they used to communicate with, Kenny, disclosed intelligence to Whelan, including a victim statement taken when he was accused of violence against a former partner, the court heard.

Kenny was seen with Whelan in her BMW and at a Nando's restaurant in November 2022 while he was released from a prison sentence, before going to work where she searched for details of prisoners released that week.

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They split up after Whelan was released before Kenny began a relationship with Mottley.

Mottley was extradited from Spain in October 2024 to face the courts following his arrest three months earlier by the National Crime Agency.

He tasked Kenny to keep him up to date with police intelligence, which she did by accessing and passing on confidential information.

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The court heard Kenny had also told Mottley about a planned police firearms raid and promised to find out who the 'local grasses' were, before attending a course about handling police informants.

Choni Kenny
Choni Kenny(Image: Lynda Roughley)

Kenny was investigated by the Independent Office of Police Conduct and GMP's Anti-Corruption Unit, before being sacked by the force for misconduct.

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In court, she pleaded guilty to four offences of misconduct in public office and one of conspiracy to commit misconduct with Mottley.

Kenny, of Tennyson Road, Cheadle, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison yesterday (April 24), while Mottley, of no fixed address, was sentenced to two years and two months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

Whelan, of Purley Avenue in Wythenshawe, Manchester, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting three counts of possessing a specified item in prison, possession of a bladed article, racially aggravated assault, threatening behaviour and a bail offence.

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(Image: PA)

Sentencing Kenny, Judge Flewitt said: “Your actions were not motivated by a desire for a financial or other advantage or borne out of any malice. They were a consequence of your naivety, immaturity and wish to maintain the friendship of Josh Whelan and Rahim Mottley.”

Chf Con Watson added: "PC Kenny abused the position of responsibility reposed in her. This was not a single occurrence but rather multiple incidents which took place over a lengthy period.

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“The misconduct involved a deliberate breach of policy, procedure and instructions which make it abundantly clear to officers and staff that care and respect should always be afforded to information on police systems.

“The criminal misconduct included the conducting of undeclared intimate relationships with two persons with serious criminal associations.

“In the furtherance of these relationships, the officer, having accessed restricted police systems, unlawfully shared with both males, police information and intelligence.

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“PC Kenny's offending behaviour was simply unacceptable. Her accessing and sharing police data with active criminals is a tangible manifestation of a distinct lack of integrity, decency and moral fibre which additionally point to her being manifestly unsuited to the office of constable.”

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