In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Sharon Patterson and Lee Pollard, the Essex Child Abuse Team, undermined a series of child sexual abuse investigations due to a blend of “cynical disdain” for the accusers and negligence, a court was informed.
Detective Constables Sharon Patterson, then 49, and Lee Pollard, then 47, are charged with document forgery and evidence concealment over three years.
The officers, who reside together in Colchester, Essex, and are involved in a relationship, each deny three charges of misconduct in a public office that occurred between 2011 and 2014.
The accusations against them pertain to document forgery, evidence hiding, and misrepresentation of the investigative status and related evidence to supervising officials.
One accusation against Sharon Patterson pertains to a teenager who reported that, beginning at the age of six, she was consistently raped by her father for almost five years, a claim evidently corroborated by prior charges from a sibling.
Patterson interviewed their mother, who provided “highly relevant” information; nonetheless, the officer allegedly documented that she was “unwilling” to make a statement.
However, the mother’s tenacity demonstrates this to be “entirely false,” according to the prosecution, who noted that the woman subsequently left a “urgent” message with another officer requesting an update from Sharon Patterson.
Sharon Patterson, the jurors were informed, emailed her colleague: “URGENT!!!! The audacity of the woman!!” I have left numerous messages on her answering machine, and she has never responded to them.
Sharon Patterson allegedly informed a supervisor that the case should be dismissed, stating that the allegations stemmed from a “bitter” ex-wife attempting to complicate her husband’s life, who appeared to be a “broken man.”
The decision was made not to forward the case to the CPS for a charge determination, with a supervisor indicating that the mother’s unwillingness to verify evidence was the primary cause.
The prosecution stated that Sharon Patterson’s “deceit” directly facilitated the conclusion of this inquiry.
Sharon Patterson is charged with misrepresenting evidence to her boss to prevent further action against a male suspect and with faking a witness statement.
She purportedly fabricated a fraudulent Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) document to mislead her supervisor into believing that a decision had been made not to prosecute a second male.
Lee Pollard purportedly eliminated and obliterated four images deemed “crucial exhibits” in an investigation and also misrepresented information to his supervisor, resulting in no further action being taken in a separate inquiry.
Sharon Patterson was sentenced to ONLY 18 months, and Lee Pollard was jailed for two years.
God knows what harm they are doing to children out in the community now.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.