Former police officer jailed for paying vulnerable teenage girls for sexual images in Hertfordshire

Former Bedfordshire Police officer, Elliot Wright, 29, from Henlow, Bedfordshire, was handed a three-year sentence today (16 October).

He was working as a police officer when in the collaborated Roads Policing Unit, supporting people in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, when he arranged to meet a teenage girl.

Wright went to the meet the girl, who has been described as high risk by Hertfordshire Constabulary, after finishing a shift for the police on 21 March.

Previously, the girl the officer was meeting had been put on a deprivation of liberty order for her own safety. This safeguarding measure limits someone’s agency if it is believed this will keep them safe and allow them to receive the care they need. In this instance, staff at the victim’s care home contacted police when they saw her getting into a car.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has confirmed police officers were then able to track wright to a place near his home in Bedfordshire to arrest him.

Prior to his arrest the victim claims Wright had asked her to delete social media correspondence the pair had shared. A Hertfordshire Constabulary investigation identified more potential victims who the former officer had contacted online. This included a 16-year-old that Wright had paid in return for sexual images.

Hertfordshire Constabulary discovered the former roads officer was aware his victim was vulnerable and often needed money for food. Hertfordshire Constabulary has confirmed on one occasion he offered her £3 for sexual images.

Once his arrest was confirmed, Wright was suspended by Bedfordshire Police, and charged soon after. In July he was kicked off the police force.

Wright pleaded guilty to three counts of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, arranging the sexual exploitation of a child, abduction of a child in care, paying for the sexual services of a child and perverting the course of justice. A further charge of misconduct in a public office, which he denied, was ordered to lay on his file. He was sentenced by a High Court judge to a total of 42 months at St Albans Crown Court, and will serve half his sentence in prison and the second half on licence. Wright was also granted an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Inspector Fay Tooley, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Safeguarding Command, said: “Firstly, I would like to praise both victims who have been incredibly brave and co-operative throughout this difficult period. They have been supported by specialist child sexual exploitation officers throughout the investigation.”

DI Tooley added: “Elliot Wright has brought shame on the policing profession. His victims needed help and support, and he offered the opposite.

“Instead, Wright exploited their vulnerability for his own sexual gratification and abused his position of trust.

“The public rightly expects the highest level of personal standards and professional behaviour by police officers, and Wright has undermined this.

“I hope today’s custodial sentence provides some reassurance that we take these cases seriously and will always provide full support and seek to bring offenders to justice.

“Being a victim of sexual offences is never your fault and we have specially trained officers on hand to help.”

Information can be reported to the police online, or via Hertfordshire Constabulary’s web chat service, and by calling the non-emergency number 101.

In addition, anyone in Hertfordshire who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence can contact the Herts Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for practical and emotional support.

The centre can arrange face-to-face support, sexual health referrals, and provide forensic medical examinations for those who want them.

To contact Herts SARC, call 0330 223 0099 or visit the website.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Wright was trained to spot and assist the most vulnerable people in his community. Instead he abused his position of trust as a police officer to target online, groom and sexually abuse teenage girls. “It is vital that the victims in this case are getting all the help they need to move forwards with their lives. We would also encourage anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, no matter when it happened or who the perpetrator was, to speak out and seek any support they might need. “If you’re concerned about the welfare of a child or young person, please call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 for help and advice or email [email protected]”