A North Yorkshire Police officer, Paedophile Christopher Douglas Groom from Malton, who admitted to producing obscene photos of children has received an 18-month community order.
Christopher Douglas Groom, 41, of Main Street, Claxton, Malton, was adjudicated at Leeds Magistrates’ Court today (14 June 2022).
The former Hambleton and Richmondshire response officer confessed to producing 8,707 Category C indecent images of minors from 3 December 2014 to 14 November 2021.
Category C encompasses lower-level indecent photographs of children, whereas Categories B and A pertain to more severe transgressions.
Christopher Douglas Groom, registered as a Sex Offender for five years and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, is required to complete 30 rehabilitation days with Safer Lives and perform 150 hours of community service. He has been suspended from duty since his arrest on 16 December 2021.
The Chief Constable and the Professional Standards Department will now evaluate an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing (AMH).
Christopher Douglas Groom resigned from North Yorkshire before to his initial court appearance on May 18.
Deputy Chief Constable Mabs Hussain stated: “North Yorkshire Police requires the utmost integrity from our officers and personnel.”
“This is crucial to guarantee that the communities we are honoured to serve possess full confidence in their police service.”
“Christopher Douglas Groom’s reprehensible and unlawful conduct has undermined public trust and betrayed North Yorkshire Police.”
Detective Sergeant Steve Alderson, of the Online Abuse and Exploitation Team, stated: “Our investigation, which included a comprehensive digital forensic analysis of devices solely utilised by Christopher Douglas Groom, conclusively demonstrated that Christopher Douglas Groom had deliberately sought and viewed a substantial quantity of child sexual abuse images.”
We successfully retrieved 8,707 Category C indecent images of children produced between December 2014 and November 2021.
No more offences were uncovered during the inquiry, and all safeguarding measures have been implemented to limit possible dangers to youth.
DS Alderson stated:
The status of Christopher Douglas Groom as an active officer of the North Yorkshire Police did not influence the conduct of our investigation.
He was treated identically to any other member of the public who became the subject of a criminal investigation and judicial procedures.
This case exemplifies the resolve of North Yorkshire Police to attain justice for charges related to indecent photos of minors, irrespective of the perpetrators’ identities.
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