A former cop who tried to give his stepson advice about playing down his repeated violent attacks against a woman has been put behind bars.

Former Cleveland Police Detective Constable Lee Busby, 51, of Wellhouse Road in Newton Aycliffe was jailed for 18 months on Monday (January 8) at Newcastle Crown Court after he was found guilty of perverting the cause of justice.

The court had previously heard how Busby had coached his 29-year-old stepson, Daniel Summers of Outram Street, in Stockton, on what he should say to officers who were investigating an assault claim made about him.

The Northern Echo: Former DC Lee Busby.Former DC Lee Busby. (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

Summers was also handed a prison sentence of ten years today after he was found guilty on one charge of rape and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Detective Inspector Victoria Docherty, from Cleveland Police Directorate of Standards and Ethics, said: “Detective Constable Lee Busby today received an 18-month sentence after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

“This followed a criminal investigation into a report of rape, which began in December 2020, during which DC Busby was alleged to have instructed a family member on what to communicate to police in order to prevent them from being arrested.

“DC Busby was arrested and found guilty of perverting the course of justice following a ten-day trial in 2023.

“Another man, Daniel Summers, was jailed for ten years for the rape of a woman.

“We would like to thank the victim in this case for their bravery in coming forward to report the incident to us and throughout the subsequent judicial process.

“A misconduct hearing will take place later this month which will determine the sanction that will be given to DC Busby.”  

Jonathan Hanratty of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “Daniel Summers had disclosed during counselling that he had committed violent acts against a woman, which the counsellor was then duty-bound to report to police.

The Northern Echo: Daniel Summers.Daniel Summers. (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

“Upon discovering this, Summers approached his stepfather, Lee Busby, to ask what he should say to investigating officers.

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“Rather than telling him to be honest with them, Busby instead told Summers to play down the severity of the incidents and, in written correspondence, also told him to ‘be careful what you say.’”

“Perhaps the most distressing aspect of this case is that, after no charges were brought against Summers for those initial incidents, he then went on to commit further sexual violence against the same woman, for which he has been sentenced today.”

“We sincerely hope that today’s sentence against both men provides some measure of comfort to the victim, who has shown great bravery throughout the prosecution of this case.”