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Child sex abuse police officer Nick Lidstone sentenced | Child sex abuse police officer Nick Lidstone sentenced |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A judge who sentenced a paedophile police officer to 14-and-a-half years in jail questioned how he had kept his job despite previously being caught taking photographs of children. | |
Cambridgeshire Police sergeant Nick Lidstone has admitted a series of rapes and child sex attacks on a victim. | |
Norwich Crown Court heard Lidstone had been arrested eight years earlier for taking "up-skirt" pictures of children. | Norwich Crown Court heard Lidstone had been arrested eight years earlier for taking "up-skirt" pictures of children. |
The 54-year-old had been given a conditional discharge in 2005. | The 54-year-old had been given a conditional discharge in 2005. |
Lidstone, who had taken the pictures using a spy pen in a branch of Tesco, had not been placed on the sex offenders' register as he had never been charged with an offence. | Lidstone, who had taken the pictures using a spy pen in a branch of Tesco, had not been placed on the sex offenders' register as he had never been charged with an offence. |
He had kept his job after agreeing to have counselling. All of his most serious abuse happened after this offence. | |
In placing him on the sex offender's register for life, Judge Anthony Bate said because Lidstone was only convicted of a public order offence a chance to detect his abuse was missed. | |
He told Lidstone: "Why on earth you were not charged under the sexual offences act, I do not know. | |
"Whoever took that decision, it allowed you to carry on as a police officer." | |
Cambridgeshire Police Chief Constable Simon Parr said: "At the time of the offences in 2005, the case was reviewed and the then Deputy Chief Constable decided Lidstone be placed on restricted duties. | |
"If we were faced with the same decision today, a more severe sanction would be imposed." | |
Alec Wood, Deputy Chief Constable of the force, said Lidstone's sentence reflected "the horrendous nature" of his crimes. | |
He said police would always investigate cases about the conduct of their officers "thoroughly and ensure any offenders are brought to justice." | |
At an earlier hearing, Lidstone, from Heslerton Way, Barrington, Cambridgeshire, had pleaded guilty to 13 offences including three counts of rape, three counts of indecency with a child, various sexual assaults and taking an indecent photograph of a child. | At an earlier hearing, Lidstone, from Heslerton Way, Barrington, Cambridgeshire, had pleaded guilty to 13 offences including three counts of rape, three counts of indecency with a child, various sexual assaults and taking an indecent photograph of a child. |
Prosecutor Andrew Shaw said Lidstone had started grooming the victim when she was nine. | |
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, earlier this year reported years of abuse which culminated in being raped as an adult. | The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, earlier this year reported years of abuse which culminated in being raped as an adult. |
She was unable to make a statement to court as she was so distressed the thought of it "made her physically sick". | |
"This was serious sexual assault," Mr Shaw said. | "This was serious sexual assault," Mr Shaw said. |
One witness who knew the victim described how her life had been "ruined". | One witness who knew the victim described how her life had been "ruined". |
"She has never been able to integrate or make friends," he said. | "She has never been able to integrate or make friends," he said. |
Lidstone broke down in tears in the dock as details of his abuse were read out. | Lidstone broke down in tears in the dock as details of his abuse were read out. |
Kerry Broome, mitigating, said Lidstone had been "infatuated". | Kerry Broome, mitigating, said Lidstone had been "infatuated". |
She said: "He is very well aware of the shame he has brought on the police force and his 30 years of service are over." | |
Lidstone pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of indecent assault, one count of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration. | Lidstone pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of indecent assault, one count of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration. |
Those charges will lie on file. | Those charges will lie on file. |
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