In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Superintendent Robyn Williams, 54, was convicted of possessing an indecent image of a child. On appearing at the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) in November 2019, the defendant—at the time the Borough Commander for Sutton, South London—was found guilty by a majority jury verdict. It was reported that the conviction followed a “sad case” involving a serious error of judgment regarding a video sent to her via WhatsApp by her sister, Jennifer Hodge.
The investigation established that the video was an unsolicited message sent to Williams in February 2018 while she was at a gym class. The Metropolitan Police Service and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) reported that Hodge had sent the footage to 17 people, including her sister, out of outrage, hoping the perpetrator would be caught. The prosecution reported that while Williams never played the one-minute video, she had opened the messaging app, and the Crown alleged she would have seen a thumbnail tile clearly indicating the indecent nature of the content.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Williams, a highly distinguished officer and recipient of the Queen’s Police Medal, maintained she never saw the thumbnail or the video’s content. The Old Bailey heard that Williams was a founder member of the National Black Police Association and had been commended for her work following the Grenfell Tower disaster. The investigation established that while the jury convicted her of possession, they found her not guilty of corruptly failing to report the image, rejecting the claim that she intentionally protected her sister.
Richard Wright QC, prosecuting, stated that the defendants had no sexual interest in the images but had committed serious criminal offences through errors of judgment. For her actions, Williams faced a sentence alongside her sister, who was convicted of distribution, and her sister’s partner, Dido Massivi, who was convicted of distributing and possessing extreme material. The judge noted that the case was particularly tragic given Williams’ 36 years of exemplary service and her role as one of the most senior African-Caribbean officers in the force.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Robyn Williams as of late 2019 was as follows:
- Verdict: Guilty of Possession of an Indecent Image (Convicted November 2019).
- Sentencing Date: 26 November 2019.
- Sex Offenders Register: Subject to notification requirements following conviction.
- Professional Status: Subject to a gross misconduct investigation by the IOPC.
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at the Old Bailey following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
- Incident Location: Sutton, South London.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Williams was placed on restricted duties following the launch of the investigation and the subsequent trial. Due to the nature of her conduct in Sutton, which involved the receipt of “revolting” child abuse material on a police-issued or personal device used for work, her case was a priority for the Directorate of Professional Standards. Authorities state that the conviction of a high-ranking officer for a digital sex offence, regardless of the lack of sexual motive, remains a maximum priority to uphold public trust in the police service.
As a convicted offender, Williams’ details were logged on the national police database in accordance with the law. Authorities state that the case served as a warning regarding the strict legal liability of possessing such material under the Protection of Children Act. Following the sentencing, the Metropolitan Police awaited the outcome of the independent misconduct investigation to determine if Williams would be formally dismissed from the force, ending a nearly four-decade career in law enforcement.
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