A FORMER Metropolitan Police officer has been jailed for more than two years for a number of sex offences involving children.
Police Constable Mark Collins, 58, who was attached to the Met’s South Area Command Unit, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, April 30.
There he was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment for multiple sex offences involving children.
On Wednesday, January 27, in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Collins pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13–15 to engage in sexual activity (with penetration) on or before November 24, 2019.
He also pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.
The offences occurred between November 4, 2019 and November 26, 2019.
Collins used personal devices to commit the offences, some of which were carried out while he was on duty - but not in his capacity as a police officer.
Former Police Constable Mark CollinsFollowing his arrest on November 26, 2019, he was immediately suspended from duty and later charged on November 9, 2020.
Collins retired from the Met on February 19, 2021.
A Special Case Hearing was held on Wednesday, April 21 and concluded that PC Collins’ conduct amounted to gross misconduct and that had he still been a serving officer he would have been dismissed.
Commander Paul Betts, Directorate of Professional Standards, said: “These are absolutely abhorrent crimes and it is utterly shocking that a police officer could have committed them.
“It is clear this type of conduct has no place within the organisation, and we are committed to bringing the perpetrators of such terrible crimes to justice, whoever they may be.”
