Description
A West Yorkshire Police staff member has been sentenced after trying to arrange sexual activity with a child.
Christopher Thompson, 33, who was working in Regional Scientific Support Services at the time of his arrest, was found guilty following a trial at Kingston-upon-Hull Crown Court in July of two counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of sending communication conveying a threatening message and one count of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an either way offence. The either way offence was trying to arrange sexual activity with a child under 13.
He appeared at Great Grimsby Crown Court yesterday where he was given an extended custodial sentence of six years. He has also been also added to the Sex Offenders Register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and indefinite restraining orders in relation to the two victims.
The investigation by West Yorkshire Police's Professional Standards Directorate looked into messages sent by Thompson to two women in January 2024. The day after the first report, Thompson was identified, arrested and suspended from duty.
On his arrest, a number of devices were also seized from Thompson and indecent images of children were found on them.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, Head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said:
“This police staff member has been involved in some really concerning behaviour online and as part of this has tried to arrange sexual activity with a child.
“We acted swiftly on the information that was provided to us and on identifying that the suspect was a police staff member ensured he was immediately arrested and suspended from duty.
“Following the conclusion of this court case, we will now be arranging misconduct proceedings with a view to him being barred from working in any further role within policing.”