A DETECTIVE has been given a final written warning for failing to investigate a man who slept with an underage girl in a case a judge said was a lamentable failure by police.

The victim later ended up being raped by the same man – Omid Ali – and forced to have sex with his friends.

Yesterday Thames Valley Police revealed it had held disciplinary proceedings against the experienced detective sergeant, but refused to name him or give more information – despite a previous pledge by former Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Sara Thornton to publish the findings of an investigation into the case.

The force – previously heavily criticised for its failures in the Bullfinch sex abuse scandal – said that in January 2012 the officer received an allegation by the girl that she had had sex with a 17-year-old or 18-year-old male in Cowley, Oxford.

The detective was made investigating officer for the case but failed to contact the girl or her father. He then failed to hand the case over when he was seconded to another operation in February 2012.

In November 2013 the same girl reported that in the summer of 2012 she had been the victim of a rape incited by the same man, Omid Ali, who was convicted of rape and of engaging in sexual activity with a child last year.

The then 21-year-old, from James Wolfe Road, Headington, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in June last year for rape, and Judge Gordon Risius criticised the police for not acting sooner.

Following Ali’s jail sentence, Sara Thornton, who was then Chief Constable, said: “Once this investigation has concluded we will, of course, publish the findings of the investigation and details of any subsequent disciplinary proceedings or sanctions.”

Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen claimed the force’s press release on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings covered Ms Thornton’s promise.

Yesterday mum-of-four Marilyn Hawes, who runs the charity Enough Abuse UK, which offers education on the prevention of child sexual abuse, described the written warning as “a slap on the wrist”.

She added: “If Sara Thornton promised the findings would be published then the findings should be published. These are children’s lives and they are being let down – the public has a right to see the detailed findings of the investigation.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “It is crucial to the victim and the credibility of the police that the promise the former Chief Constable made to publish the findings of the force’s investigation is honoured. It gives out the wrong message for the police to say one thing and do another.”

Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell said: “After carefully considering all of the evidence the misconduct panel concluded that the officer’s conduct did amount to gross misconduct and that he was in breach of the following Standards of Professional Behaviour, namely duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.

“The officer in this case has been issued with a final written warning and was left in no doubt about the seriousness of his actions.

“The officer involved has a good track record within the force and has worked hard to bring offenders, particularly in sexual offence cases, to justice.

“He is aware that in this case his conduct was unacceptable and that he has let the victim down.”

The Oxford Mail asked the force a series of questions regarding the misconduct panel’s investigation but Mrs Billen refused to respond to some of them.

IPCC spokeswoman Joanna Irving said the case was referred by the force in January 2014 and the force carried out the investigation with the IPCC agreeing the terms of reference.