Married Bedfordshire Police inspector who tried to meet young girls for sex jailed for 30 months
A married police inspector who had indecent images of children and tried to meet kids for sex online has been jailed for two-and-half years.
John Nichols, 51, trawled chat rooms for potential victims, telling one user he wanted to meet his daughters for sex.
The depraved Bedfordshire Police officer also wrote in a conversation with another user that he liked ‘yng girls’.
He also suggested to the man who said he had two daughters, that he would like to meet them for sex, and while he did for the pair to be wearing Hello Kitty underwear.
Bedfordshire Police inspector John Nichols, 51, trawled chat rooms for potential victims, telling one user he wanted to meet his daughters for sex
In a separate conversation he told the man ‘the younger the less likely to tell and remember when older’.
Nichols also sent pictures of his own genitalia, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Police discovered the sexually explicit and graphic conversations on chat rooms where he looked for ‘opportunities’, the CPS said.
An undercover online investigation by the Met Police revealed Nichols, who served as an inspector with Bedfordshire Police, had 39 indecent images on his devices.
At Inner London Crown Court today, Nichols was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
He pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent images of children and attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence at an earlier hearing.
Judge Jane Rowley also ordered Nichols. from Bedford, be given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
Louise Clissold, senior crown prosecutor at the CPS London North’s Crown Court unit, said after the hearing: ‘As a serving police officer it is hugely concerning that such sexually explicit messaging and indecent images of children were found on John Nichols’ phone.
‘Although no sexual activity is known to have taken place, Nichols’ actions were vile and a grave abuse of trust.
‘Sexual offences against children are abhorrent and the CPS is committed to prosecuting all offenders.’
At Inner London Crown Court today (pictured), Nichols was sentenced to 30 months in prison
Nichols was removed from all police duties as soon as the allegations came to light, and then retired from the force before his first court appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court on July 27.
He was jailed for 30 months and made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
Assistant Chief Constable Sharn Basra apologised for the defendant’s crimes and described them as ‘vile’.
He said today: ‘As a senior leader in policing, nothing could disappoint me more than the thought of an officer, whose very role is to protect the vulnerable, committing such vile offences.
‘We know the public’s trust in policing nationally has been damaged over recent years, this appalling case only serves to impact this further.
‘For this I can only apologise and assure all our communities that the police service is fully committed to investigating and bringing to justice those who commit crime, whoever they may be.
‘Nichols was immediately removed from all duties as soon as these allegations came to light, and then retired from the force prior to his first hearing.
‘However, despite the fact he is no longer a serving member of the force, we will be immediately progressing fast-track internal misconduct proceedings against him.’
