Met officer 'groomed and manipulated' TV host

A TV presenter has told a disciplinary panel that a former police officer abused his position to "groom and manipulate" her into a sexual relationship.

Jackie Adedeji, now 31, alleged that then-Metropolitan Police constable Ian Steel used her "to fulfil his racialised sexual fantasy" after lying to her about his identity.

A disciplinary panel is being held by City of London Police as Steel transferred there in 2022 before resigning a couple of years later.

Steel did not attend the hearing but has admitted gross misconduct, although he denied some of the allegations.

Adedeji, who has waived her right to anonymity, reported Steel's alleged behaviour to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in November 2023.

The panel heard she was 22 and on a night out with friends in Shoreditch in June 2016 when she met Steel, who was on duty as a plain‑clothes officer.

Adedeji told the hearing she had been lost and "a bit tipsy" when she began talking to Steel, who falsely claimed he was an undercover officer and told her: "I'm not letting you go without getting your number."

She said he later texted her under a false name and claimed he was in his early thirties and single.

He was, in fact, 38 at the time and it was only years later that she discovered he was living with a long‑term partner with whom he had a child.

She told the panel: "It felt like he took advantage of me because I was young and naïve and excited, and I hadn't had much life experience.

"Because he was a police officer, I just trusted the things he said."

She said Steel had groomed her by complimenting her at a time when she felt lonely and had low self‑esteem, along with pressuring her to send nude photographs.

The panel heard that Steel had an "on and off" relationship with Adedeji over a couple of years, meeting her on four occasions while he was on duty.

One incident allegedly involved sexual activity in an alleyway - an allegation Steel denies.

Adedeji said Steel referred to her as "the black girl" to his friends and gave her the nickname "Diamond," in reference to a black porn star, which made her feel "completely oversexualised."

She said she had been confused at the time, as she did not understand the references or why he did not want to be seen in public with her.

Becoming tearful as she gave evidence, she said Steel had told her: "I like black girls, but I couldn't marry one."

She said she had since suffered with anxiety, including when she hears police sirens, and struggled to trust people.

"I trusted him on the basis he was a police officer. I looked up to him on the basis he was a police officer," she said.

Steel had chosen not to attend the hearing or be legally represented.

In a statement, he acknowledged his behaviour "when taken collectively" amounted to gross misconduct and said he wished to apologise to Adedeji and was "deeply regretful".

However, he disputed some of the allegations, including whether he was on duty during certain meetings and denies any sexual activity took place in the alleyway.

The hearing, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner, continues.

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