A serving police inspector was exposed in an online sting operation after making obscene remarks about the underwear of a child. Richard Wilson held a respected position within Durham Constabulary when he was caught engaging in the deeply disturbing exchange online.
Believing he was conversing with a like-minded individual in a chatroom, Wilson was in fact communicating with an undercover officer operating a decoy profile as an adult male. Wilson made remarks about underwear he claimed to possess belonging to a 12-year-old girl and additionally claimed to be viewing a friend's daughter on Instagram.
Court Proceedings
Joe Culley, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He was a serving police officer with Durham Constabulary as an inspector." Officers were conducting an operation targeting online child sexual exploitation, with a decoy posing as an adult male on the Kik platform. The court heard Wilson was active in a chatroom in February 2023.
After Wilson posted a message, the police decoy contacted him privately. Wilson, operating under a false name and incorrectly claiming to be situated a few miles outside Dublin, made reference to a 12-year-old girl who he stated appeared to look 15. He made reference to her underwear and shared a non-indecent image of a female child which was said to be the girl he had referred to.
Mr Culley said: "He sent a message saying she had a skimpy thong under there." When asked if that was the one he had found, he said it was and said it had been in her dress. Mr Culley said Wilson said his wife was away for the weekend and he was "free for more nice fun". They exchanged Snapchat details and the following day their communication continued. Wilson said he was "feeling horny and looking at mates dau (daughter) on Insta".
Arrest and Sentence
On March 17, 2023, he was arrested and gave no comment in interview. He later failed to provide a password to his phone. Mr Culley said the chat might have encouraged a sexual interest in teenage children. He added: "The evidence suggests he was visiting an online chatroom where there was a discussion about a sexual interest in children and he engaged in a private chat about that topic as well."
Wilson, 40, of Throckley, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to publishing an obscene article and failing to disclose a key to protected information. Andrew Walker, defending, acknowledged it was a "grossly offensive subject matter" but said it was a relatively short conversation. He added that Wilson has felt the impact of the offending and spent three months in a mental health facility and has a mental disorder.
The court heard he has no previous convictions and the impact of his offending has seriously affected his mental and physical health and his personal circumstances have "radically changed for the worse" and he is now very isolated. He has been cooperating with and securing help from a number of agencies and Judge Sarah Mallett said his risk is manageable in the community. She added that he is likely to lose his job.
Wilson was sentenced to 22 months suspended for two years with a six-month alcohol treatment requirement. Wilson joined Durham Constabulary in 2008 and the offences were committed while he was off duty.
Police Response
After the case, Assistant Chief Constable Jon McAdam said: "The public quite rightly expects the very highest professional standards from the police. As soon as these allegations came to light, he was immediately suspended from duty while an investigation took place. Now that the criminal justice process has been completed, he will be subject to an Accelerated Gross Misconduct Hearing, which is expected to take place later this month."
