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Sex case officer to be sentenced Prison sentence for sex case Pc
(about 5 hours later)
An officer who admitted having sex with a 14-year-old girl is due to be sentenced later. An officer who admitted having sex with a 14-year-old girl has been sentenced to one year in prison.
Lancashire Pc Christopher Billinge changed his plea on the eve of his trial, pleading guilty to one count of sexual activity with a girl under 16. Lancashire Pc Christopher Billinge had changed his plea on the eve of his trial, pleading guilty to one count of sexual activity with a girl under 16.
Newcastle Crown Court heard on Monday that the 25-year-old committed the offence in Sunderland in September last year while off duty. Newcastle Crown Court heard on Monday that he committed the offence while off duty in Sunderland last September.
Billinge was arrested last November and suspended from the force. The 25-year-old from Chorley was suspended from the force on his arrest and now faces the sack.
The 25-year-old, who has been an officer for two years, now faces the sack from Lancashire Police. Billinge had met the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in an internet chatroom, and sent her explicit text messages and e-mails.
Judge Esmond Faulks accepted that Billinge, who worked in Skelmersdale, was of good character but told him he faced jail. She had told him she was a year older and would soon be turning 16, but the prosecution told the court that there was compelling evidence from these messages that he fully understood that she was 15.
He said: "I have already given an indication of what the sentence will be - one of custody - and you will have to bear that in mind and prepare yourself. Good character
Billinge was released on bail. He visited her while her parents were away on holiday and she was in the care of her grandfather.
When the girl's mother became suspicious of Billinge's relationship with her daughter he destroyed his computer to hide evidence of the explicit internet chats with the teenager.
Ray Herman, defending, said the Cardiff University graduate, who was brought up in Liverpool, was of exceptionally good character.
He added: "He has lost his good name, both in the community and amongst his family and friends.
"It is a disgrace he is finding hard to bear."
Judge Esmond Faulks sentenced him to one year in prison.
Another charge of sexual grooming was ordered to lie on file.Another charge of sexual grooming was ordered to lie on file.