A female police officer was caught on camera locking lips with a prisoner, while wearing her police uniform.

Corrupt Choni Kelly had affairs with two inmates and used her position at Greater Manchester Police to pass information to her lovers.

Kenny was caught on CCTV visiting Whelan at Forest Bank Prison, dressed in her police uniform, sharing the kiss that would end her career and land him back in prison serving a fresh sentence.   

The court was told how Kenny had a ‘casual sexual relationship’ with drug dealer Josh Whelan, who was described by Judge Neil Flewitt KC as a ‘committed criminal’.

Whelan was in prison from 2021 to 2023 and was in possession of 20 mobile phones while behind bars – all funded and delivered by Kenny.

She was also seen with Whelan in her BMW and went to a Nando’s restaurant with him, before going to work where she searched for details of prisoners released that week. 

Kenny, 27, who joined Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in 2020, was yesterday given a three-year and nine-month prison sentence at Liverpool Crown Court. 

Her lover Whelan, admitted to possessing a phone in prison and has been re-jailed for two years and eight months.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article, racially aggravated assault, threatening behaviour and a bail offence.

The pair broke up after Whelan was released and Kenny then started a relationship with Rahim Mottley, who was under investigation by GMP and had moved to Spain.

The fateful kiss was spotted on CCTV by GMP anti-corruption investigators as they probed her movements, phone and computer use.

The Forbidden kiss: This is the moment Choni Kelly was caught kissing prisoner Josh Whelan at Forest Bank prison while dressed in police uniform

Kenny, of Cheadle, Greater Manchester, admitted four counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office

Whelan, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing an illegal mobile phone in prison.

Her relationship with former schoolmate Mottley was described as ‘physical but casual’. 

And while the 27-year-old was attracted to both men, she may have been ‘infatuated’ with Whelan, the court heard.

The police officer accessed information and intelligence which she then disclosed to Whelan, including a victim statement taken when he was accused of violence against a former partner, the court was told.

The court was also told how Kenny searched police systems for information after Mottley was arrested in February of that year, informing him of a planned police firearms raid as well as vowing to find who the ‘local grasses’ were.

Judge Flewitt, sentencing, 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.’

He said the men ‘took advantage’ and ‘exploited’ Kenny’s willingness to disclose information which could be of benefit to themselves and criminal associates’, before adding: ‘You must have known that what you were doing was wrong.’

The judge told Kenny: ‘You have let down not only GMP and the community it serves but also yourself, your family and your friends.’

During the sentencing hearing, it was heard how the corrupt police officer passed information to two crook associates  Josh Whelan and Rahim Mottley

The court heard Whelan, 31, was in possession of 20 different mobile phones while serving time in prison between 2021 and 2023 and their use was funded by Kenny.

Judge Flewitt said it was an ‘aggravating feature’ that it was clear from conversations Kenny knew Whelan was a drug dealer.

He added: ‘You were helping him to supervise that operation from prison.’

Alexander Beevers, defending Whelan, said: ‘He is a convicted criminal. His co-defendant liked that aspect of his character, it is something which appealed to her and unfortunately she, in addition and unusually, had the status of being a police officer.

‘She was willing to make use of that status.’

The court heard after Mottley was arrested in February 2022, Kenny searched police systems to access information about the investigation.

She told him about a planned police firearms raid and promised to find out who the ‘local grasses’ were before attending a course about handling police informants, the court heard.

Mottley had been arrested in Spain, where some of his family lived and Kenny had spent time with him, and was extradited to face proceedings.

Mottley, 28, was sentenced to two years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office 

Kenny, of Cheadle, Greater Manchester, admitted four counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office at an earlier hearing.

Mottley, 28, was sentenced to two years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

Whelan, of 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.

Chief Constable 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.

‘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.

‘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.’

Choni Kenny, 27, who joined Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in 2020, was given a three-year and nine-month prison sentence at Liverpool Crown Court today (pictured)

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: ‘Whenever we receive reports of misconduct by one of our officers, we will always conduct a thorough investigation.

‘Kenny abused her position as a police officer and tried to compromise a police investigation by accessing and passing on confidential information.

‘She also entered into an illegal relationship with a known criminal while he was behind bars and given this criminality the full weight of our specialist Anti-Corruption Unit was brought to bear against her.

‘Kenny’s actions plainly amounted to serious corruption and it is right that she now contemplates her future from behind the bars of the prison estate where she is now incarcerated.

‘Kenny’s jail term is fully deserved – she does not represent the thousands of professional, honest, hard-working police officers across Greater Manchester who continue to protect the public every day.

‘This anti-corruption operation against Kenny, Whelan and Mottley is testament to the expertise of GMP’s Anti-Corruption Unit and their commitment to ripping out any corruption that tries to take hold in GMP

‘If any officers or members of the public have any suspicions about the behaviour of one of our officers then they should report in the confidence that we will investigate.’

Kenny was dismissed from the police service following an accelerated misconduct hearing on 1 April 2025.

Whelan, of 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 (Pictured: Liverpool Crown Court)

Alan Richardson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: ‘As a police officer, Choni Kenny was trusted to uphold the law and protect the public, yet her conduct fell far below this when she became involved with two known criminals.

‘Kenny then passed on information to known criminals that she had accessed on the police computer without a legitimate policing purpose.

‘We worked closely with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case leading to Choni Kenny accepting her guilt.

‘The public quite rightly expect high standards from those responsible for upholding the law. The Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to bring charges against those who abuse their position.’