A Ross Coleman Northamptonshire Police Paedophile officer from Higham Ferrers, Ross Coleman, who was “addicted” to viewing films of child abuse including children as young as four, was granted clemency and avoided incarceration in 2022.
Ross Coleman, 44, stated that he began streaming the objectionable content as “a form of escapism” following his financial difficulties.
At the time of his offence, he was a serving special sergeant in the Northamptonshire Police’s safer roads team, but subsequently resigned.
Prosecutor Joey Kwong stated that an examination of the device revealed 80 obscene photographs of minors, including 45 classified as the most severe (category A), 20 as category B, and 15 as category C. The files depicted the sexual abuse of girls as young as four years old and were downloaded during a two-year span.
Ross Coleman, currently unemployed after resigning from his position as an Asda delivery driver in Brackmills, provided non-committal responses when interrogated by law enforcement before confessing to three counts of indecent image offences before to Christmas.
Mitigating, Kim Lee said Ross Coleman’s offending was down to his financial difficulties, which he had been in since 2008.
He said: “Because of these financial problems he would seek escapism, unfortunately, by using various chat sites and viewing this material.”
He said that Ross Coleman was “really ashamed” and that he had let down his former Northamptonshire Police colleagues, adding that he was at a “very low ebb” having lost his home and his family.
Ross Coleman, who was supported in court by his parents who have taken him in after he was kicked out by his partner, nodded in the dock as Judge Rhona Campbell told him many child abuse offences were down to people like him.
She said: “These are crimes with victims. If people like you did not sit in your house watching this material there would not be any need for any poor little girls to be taken from their homes and be sexually exploited.
“They are because there is a market for people like you to watch this stuff.
“They are someone’s daughter…they are all lives that have been affected by this type of offending.”
Mr Lee said Ross Coleman has since been to his GP to “fight his demons” and his “addiction” to child abuse images – and it was the steps he had taken to address his behaviour that the judge put down to “just” being convinced to suspend his prison sentence.
Ross Coleman’s one-year spell behind bars was suspended for 18 months and he must take part in 120 hours of unpaid work.
The disgraced former police special must also take part in 35 days of rehabilitation activities and will be the subject of a sexual harm prevention order restricting his internet use.
He will now face a police gross misconduct hearing.
Detective Constable Jason Cullum, of Northamptonshire Police, led the investigation. He said: “I am pleased this case has concluded and that justice has been done. It serves as a warning to anybody who thinks they can look at indecent images of children and go unnoticed.
“It is doesn’t matter who you are or what you do. You can expect a knock on your door from a police officer and from that moment onwards your whole life will be turned upside down. You are likely to lose your family, your home and your job, as Ross Coleman did.
“More importantly, every indecent image of a child is an image of a victim. These are images of child abuse and perpetuate more offending against the most vulnerable in our society.
“This is why we have a team of experts dedicated to catching offenders and bringing them to justice.
“Anybody with information about people viewing and sharing indecent images of children should report it immediately by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.