A policeman recorded himself sexually abusing a 13-year-old lady utilizing her cell phone, a court docket heard.
PC Luke Christopher Horner was off obligation when he travelled greater than an hour from his house in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to have interaction in sexual exercise with the schoolgirl in Northamptonshire on 11 June this yr.
The 24-year-old Thames Valley Police (TVP) officer pleaded responsible to a single rely of sexual exercise with a toddler throughout a listening to at Northampton Crown Court on Thursday.
Horner, who was primarily based in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, resigned on 26 July, the drive has now confirmed.
Prosecutor Ben Gow instructed the court docket Horner recorded the abuse on the sufferer’s telephone.
“I understand that the pleas are entered on the basis he did record [the sexual activity] and the phone was in his hand.
“The telephone was not his telephone, it was belonging to the kid in query.
“It can be seen in his hand in the video.
“We regard this as one of many culpability options of the offence in query.”
A second rely of constructing an indecent picture of a kid – deemed to type a part of the sexual exercise – was faraway from the indictment, Mr Gow instructed the court docket.
Horner appeared on the court docket by way of video hyperlink from HMP Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.
Wearing a light-weight gray swimsuit, white shirt and blue tie, he spoke solely to verify his identify and enter a responsible plea.
Horner was initially charged by Northamptonshire Police, however TVP suspended him from obligation and launched a separate misconduct investigation after referring the matter to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
‘Disgrace to the uniform’
Detective Sergeant Sarah Osbourne, who led the Northamptonshire Police investigation, branded Horner a “disgrace to the uniform”.
First of all, I need to thank the household of the younger lady on this case who put their belief in us to research it and convey Luke Horner to justice.
“I am pleased that he has pleaded guilty today which has prevented them from having to go through the trauma of a trial, and I hope that whilst what happened can never be erased, this result will allow them to move forward.
“Cases of kid sexual exploitation are all the time abhorrent however the truth that Luke Christopher Horner was a serving Thames Valley police officer, able of belief, makes this case all of the extra surprising.
“He is a disgrace to the uniform and I am glad that he will now go to prison and never be allowed to call himself a police officer ever again.”
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TVP deputy chief constable, Ben Snuggs, mentioned he welcomed Horner’s request for forgiveness and resignation.
“We are all appalled by Luke Horner’s crimes, and our thoughts are with the young woman who has been affected and her family.
“The bar at which requirements are set in policing is rightly excessive.
“Anyone who falls below those standards in this way betrays the public’s trust and confidence in policing and the values of the profession as a whole.”
Horner will stay in custody forward of his sentence, which is scheduled for 8 September.
Source: information.sky.com”