article_snippet: Placing four vulnerable women trust in Higgs as a police officer Higgs victims all agreed to lend Higgs money.
article_snippet: But when Higgs lies started to unravel Higgs began blackmailing his victims all, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
article_snippet: Higgs told one that if she didn't lie to the police for Higgs Higgs would get social services involved in an ongoing family dispute she was having.
article_snippet: Higgs has now been jailed for five years and two months after Higgs admitted 16 counts of fraud, perverting the course of justice, intimidation and blackmail.
article_snippet: Plymouth Crown Court heard the women trusted Higgs (pictured) as an officer of Devon and Cornwall police force .
article_snippet: police officer was manipulated and preyed on by Higgs and branded Higgs 'scum' The Devon & Cornwall (headquarters pictured) police officer said Higgs threatened suicide – and Higgs even stole money from the victim's young son.
article_snippet: In a victim impact statement read out in court, one woman said: 'I was in a vulnerable position when Higgs lied to one woman. '
article_snippet: Higgs abused Higgs position as a police officer and a friend.
article_snippet: women fell foul of Higgs charms and when that failed Higgs Higgs turned to intimidation and cajoling. '
article_snippet: Over the course of Higgs relationships Higgs applied psychological pressure in the form of saying Higgs was suicidal.'
article_snippet: Robert Linford, defending, said: 'Higgs did not set out to befriend each of the complainants in order to defraud each of the complainants. '
article_snippet: Robert Linford, defending were people for whom Higgs had a genuine feeling of affection and for whom Higgs wanted to be with. '
article_snippet: In the background Higgs had a secret addiction.
article_snippet: This is no excuse for what Higgs did, but it's the reason that lay behind Higgs shameful years of offending. '
article_snippet: At the time the word of Higgs was only as good as Higgs next bet.'
article_snippet: Higgs, who served as a response police officer in the Helston area, has been suspended from duties since January 2013.
article_snippet: Higgs, who served as a response police officer in the Helston area will now be subject to a fast track internal disciplinary process.
article_snippet: Detective Superintendent Sam De Reya said: 'Higgs has acted in a wholly inappropriate and criminal manner for which Higgs has rightly been convicted at court. '
article_snippet: As soon as these allegations came to light, Higgs Higgs was suspended and a full investigation launched which identified the victims and witnesses who have supported the investigation and criminal case. '
article_snippet: Higgs actions have fallen well below the standards expected on a number of occasions resulting in criminal offences being identified. 'criminal offences being identified significantly impacted the victims who were members of the public, colleagues, family and friends and our thoughts and considerations are with family and friends and our thoughts and considerations as Higgs Higgs begins Higgs custodial sentence.'