Ex-Humberside Police inspector had 'revolting' images of children

HE 'ONLY JUST' AVOIDED BEING LOCKED UP

- By MARK PAGE [e-mail]

A FORMER Humberside Police inspector who had a “long and impressive” career has “only just” avoided prison after being found with “revolting” indecent images of children on his phones.

Police discovered 246 photos and videos depicting child abuse on 43-year-old Ian Walpole’s devices after he was arrested in July 2024, a court heard. His crimes were uncovered during a Police Scotland investigation in June 2024 into another man who had sent videos of himself abusing a child to a contact named in his phone as Ian. Walpole admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of children at Lincoln Magistrates' Court last year.

During a sentencing hearing at Lincoln Crown Court this week, Walpole was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 21 months. Recorder Luke Blackburn said the fact Walpole, of Roxby, North Lincolnshire, had thrown away a 21-year career in policing was his own fault.

He said few people would have known better the “profound” impact child sexual abuse images have on victims than a police officer. The recorder said: “The reality of child sexual exploitation is, of course, real-world harm done to real victims - whether they are in this country or far abroad makes no difference at all.”

Prosecution counsel Michael Masson told the court an iPhone 11 belonging to Walpole had 89 illegal files, of which 26 were pictures in the most serious category A, 13 were pictures in category B, and 41 were pictures in category C. There were also nine category A videos.