Cop’s sick admission about 12-year-old lady’s ‘thong’ and ‘enjoyable whereas spouse is away’

Richard Wilson, 40, was in a respected role with Durham Constabulary when he was caught in an online sting making obscene comments about a 12-year-old child’s underwear

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A serving police inspector was ensnared in an online sting after making lewd comments about a child’s underwear.

Richard Wilson held a respected position within Durham Constabulary when he was caught engaging in the disturbing online conversation. He believed he was conversing with a like-minded individual in a chatroom, but it was actually a police officer operating a decoy profile as an adult male.

Wilson made remarks about underwear he claimed to possess, belonging to a 12-year-old girl, and also alleged he was viewing a friend’s daughter on Instagram. Joe Culley, prosecuting, informed Newcastle Crown Court: “He was a serving police officer with Durham Constabulary as an inspector.”

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Police were conducting an operation to combat online child sexual exploitation and had a decoy posing as an adult male on the Kik platform. The court heard that Wilson was in a chatroom in February 2023.

He posted a message and the police decoy sent him a private message. Wilson, who was using a pseudonym and falsely claimed he was a few miles outside Dublin, referred to a 12-year-old girl who he said appeared 15, reports Chronicle Live.

He mentioned her underwear and shared a non-indecent image of a female child, purportedly the girl he had referenced. Mr Culley stated: “He sent a message saying she had a skimpy thong under there.”

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When asked if that was the one he had discovered, he confirmed it was and said it had been in her dress.

Mr Culley stated that Wilson mentioned his wife was away for the weekend and he was “free for more nice fun”. They swapped Snapchat details and their conversation continued the next day.

Wilson expressed that he was “feeling horny and looking at mates dau (daughter) on Insta”.

On March 17, 2023, he was arrested and remained silent during the interview. He subsequently failed to provide a password for his phone.

Mr Culley suggested that the chat might have stimulated a sexual interest in teenagers. He added: “The evidence suggests he was visiting an online chatroom where there was a discussion about a sexual interest in children and he engaged in a private chat about that topic as well.”

Wilson, 40, from Throckley, Newcastle, admitted to publishing an obscene article and failing to disclose a key to protected information.

Andrew Walker, defending, recognised it was a “grossly offensive subject matter” but noted it was a relatively brief conversation. He added that Wilson has felt the repercussions of his actions, spending three months in a mental health facility and suffering from a mental disorder.

The court heard he has no prior convictions and the impact of his offending has severely affected his mental and physical health. His personal circumstances have “radically changed for the worse” and he is now extremely isolated.

He has been collaborating with and receiving assistance from several agencies, and Judge Sarah Mallett said his risk can be managed within the community. She added that he is likely to lose his job.

Wilson received a 22-month sentence suspended for two years alongside a six-month alcohol treatment requirement. Wilson became part of Durham Constabulary in 2008 and the offences took place while he was off duty.

Following the case, Assistant Chief Constable Jon McAdam said: “The public quite rightly expects the very highest professional standards from the police. As soon as these allegations came to light, he was immediately suspended from duty while an investigation took place.

“Now that the criminal justice process has been completed, he will be subject to an Accelerated Gross Misconduct Hearing, which is expected to take place later this month”.

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