Coventry policeman Stephen Shaw sacked over child grooming

[dutchman]

A police sergeant who admitted two child grooming charges has been dismissed by the force



West Midlands Police sergeant Stephen Shaw sent an indecent photo and graphic messages to an undercover colleague who was posing online as a 12-year-old girl.

The 46-year-old was dismissed without notice for gross misconduct at a hearing chaired by his chief constable.

Shaw, who is currently on bail, will be sentenced on 17 November.

He pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court in August to attempting to cause or incite a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The hearing was told the Luton-born officer, who is married, sent messages to the undercover operative telling her she could "pass for 15" and made numerous comments about sexual acts in online chats.

Shaw's lawyer told the court the officer had never met up with a child he had spoken to online and he had "half expected" the profile he had contacted to be an adult posing as a youngster.

[dutchman]

Coventry police officer tried to groom '12-year-old girl' - but it backfired



A police officer from Coventry was caught out trying to groom a schoolgirl online.

West Midlands Police sergeant Stephen Shaw, 46, used an internet chat site to talk to what he thought was a 12-year-old girl.

However, it turns out he was actually talking to an undercover police officer.

Shaw told 'her' he would have "full sex" if she wanted - then sent a sexually explicit picture of himself.

He also asked her if she had watched pornography and said he hoped he could "turn her on."

Birmingham Crown Court heard the sergeant had previously received training in relation to safeguarding children who had been victims of sexual abuse.

The officer had previously admitted possessing indecent photos, attempting to engage a 12-year-old girl in sexual activity and attempting to communicate with a girl in a sexual way.

He was sentenced to 14 months, suspended for two years, ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Robert Price, prosecuting, said Shaw had joined the police force in 1995 and when required also acted as an inspector.

He said the officer was caught as a result of an operation carried out by police to identify individuals having sexual contact with children online.

Shaw had registered with two chatlines using a false name.

In August last year he began a conversation with the '12 year old' telling her she was "cute" and talking about going to the cinema.

However Shaw then turned the conversation to sexual matters, including asking the 'girl' about her experience with boys and about kissing.

On August 22 police raided his home and recovered an iPad and laptop on which was found 48 indecent images of children which had been sent to him via Skype.

When quizzed Shaw admitted committing the offences for his own sexual gratification saying that he fantasised about having sex with children but would not act out his fantasises.

He said that he "simply could not help himself."

In passing sentence Judge Kristina Montgomery QC said: "You attempted to groom that person who you believed to be a child and engaged them in sexualised conversation.

"It began as insidiously as grooming does with compliments before introducing the subject of sex.

"You invited that child to meet with you and you then stepped up a gear and made explicit references to her sexual experiences."

However the judge said: "This was a relatively short-lived episode which thankfully did not result in the harming of any child."