A FORMER community cop caught with animal porn on his computer escaped a prison sentence.
David Harrison was given a 12-month conditional discharge for possessing 19 extreme pornographic images, after the judge said he was just "curious".
The ex-police community support officer, formerly of Jefferies Way, Stanford-le-Hope, was busted for the porn after being arrested for sending sexually-explicit text messages to a 13-year-old girl.
Harrison, 29, now of Waldegrave Gardens, Upminster, is serving a two-year community order for sending the texts in May last year, which was imposed in February.
Basildon Crown Court heard today (Wednesday) how police seized Harrison's computer as part of their investigation into the texts last May, and discovered 57 sexual images involving animals on the hard-drive.
An expert analysed the pictures and found 19 of them were classed as extreme porn.
A probation officer who assessed Harrison ahead of the sentencing described the charges as "very serious offences", but Judge Christopher Mitchell said he disagreed.
The judge said Harrison wasn't like the lead character in Peter Shaffer play Equus, who harmed horses because of his sexual obsession with them.
Judge Mitchell said: "I fully accept your explanation that you were curious as to whether this material existed.
"Before 2008, having this material wasn't an offence and this sort of material relates to adults and animals, not children and animals.
"There's no extra twist in this case of the sort that's depicted in the well-known play Equus."
Harrison worked as a community cop in Corringham, but resigned after the sexual offences came to light.
He has also worked as a council community warden in Basildon in the past.
Comments
have the tories relaxed that law that every school has to crb check everyone they emply this is a reason why they shouldn i couldn really care any less about the aminal **** but he should of been more severly done for the texting of a 13 year old girl surely thats along the lines of grooming ffs
have the tories relaxed that law that every school has to crb check everyone they emply this is a reason why they shouldn i couldn really care any less about the aminal **** but he should of been more severly done for the texting of a 13 year old girl surely thats along the lines of grooming ffs
Thank you so much for thinking like that we_man, rm155nn I am the girls mum and yes I can state hand on heart it was grooming but it was reduced to the formal charge through plea bargaining....
I would like to know what he needs to do to get justice for the victims of his heinous crimes. Its not just me and my family its his family. There is no justice in this world I would love the opportunity to put my side of the story across no holds barred. Have to say WELL DONE Thurrock Gazette for publishing the truth especially in this day of press and hacking scandals. The man concerned is filth he is scum, he should have been charged for abuse of trust as well in my opinion because he often used the trust me I am a policeman. Does not do much for the honest true reliable officers around. The Judge in both cases (the same man) definitely needs to wake up and smell the roses I can tell you he is on a different planet to the rest of the world Stupid Stupid Man I can only hope none of his family have to go through what we have been through over the last 14 months... At least we have survived this ordeal hopefully we can survive the rest.....
Thank you so much for thinking like that we_man, rm155nn I am the girls mum and yes I can state hand on heart it was grooming but it was reduced to the formal charge through plea bargaining....
I would like to know what he needs to do to get justice for the victims of his heinous crimes. Its not just me and my family its his family. There is no justice in this world I would love the opportunity to put my side of the story across no holds barred. Have to say WELL DONE Thurrock Gazette for publishing the truth especially in this day of press and hacking scandals. The man concerned is filth he is scum, he should have been charged for abuse of trust as well in my opinion because he often used the trust me I am a policeman. Does not do much for the honest true reliable officers around. The Judge in both cases (the same man) definitely needs to wake up and smell the roses I can tell you he is on a different planet to the rest of the world Stupid Stupid Man I can only hope none of his family have to go through what we have been through over the last 14 months... At least we have survived this ordeal hopefully we can survive the rest.....
only speaking what i see as the truth its a bit sickening
only speaking what i see as the truth its a bit sickening
Judge Mitchell fully accepted his explanation that he was curious!! Yeah he was curious 57 times - just goes to show where Judge Mitchell's allegiances lie. I'm with the probation officer on this one. Judge Mitchell should stand down immediately.
Judge Mitchell fully accepted his explanation that he was curious!! Yeah he was curious 57 times - just goes to show where Judge Mitchell's allegiances lie. I'm with the probation officer on this one. Judge Mitchell should stand down immediately.