ADRIAN MILTON FROM CROYDON POLICE STATION INVOLVED IN THEFT AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL

In April 2017, a disturbing case involving a Croydon-based police employee, Adrian Milton, came to light, revealing a series of serious criminal activities that shocked the local community and the wider law enforcement circle. Milton, who was employed as a civilian staff member at Croydon Police Station, was found to have committed multiple offenses, including theft, possession of indecent images of children, and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The case first surfaced when police investigations uncovered that Milton had stolen mobile phones and a significant quantity of shotgun ammunition—specifically, 300 rounds—seized during the investigation into the notorious 2010 Pakistan cricket spot-fixing scandal. Despite records maintained by the Metropolitan Police indicating that Milton had marked these items as 'destroyed,' authorities later discovered that the ammunition and phones were not disposed of as instructed. Instead, they were found during a raid conducted by the force’s gangs unit in 2016, revealing a grave breach of protocol and trust.

The raid took place at Milton’s residence in Swallowdale, Selsdon, where investigators uncovered a horrifying collection of thousands of images and videos depicting extreme child sexual abuse. The material included footage of girls as young as three years old, engaging in acts of sexual violence. The discovery of such content was a stark reminder of the severity of Milton’s misconduct, and it led to his subsequent arrest and prosecution.

During the court proceedings at Croydon Crown Court, Judge Warwick McKinnon described the content of the images as being 'about as bad as it can get.' The judge emphasized that Milton’s theft of the ammunition and mobile phones represented a 'grossest breach of trust,' especially considering his role in managing a custody store where criminal exhibits are kept. The potential danger posed by the ammunition falling into the wrong hands was highlighted as a significant concern.

Prosecutor Carol Fern provided further details, revealing that Milton, who had been employed by the Metropolitan Police since 2005, was responsible for overseeing the custody store at Croydon Police Station, located on Park Lane. The thefts, believed to have occurred around 2013, went unnoticed until March 2016, when police from the gangs unit executed a raid on the home of Nicholas Onisiforou in Beckenham. During this operation, authorities discovered three shotguns at Onisiforou’s residence, along with the 300 rounds of shotgun ammunition stored in a holdall in a vehicle outside the property.

Investigators also found police-issued items bearing Milton’s name during the raid. Evidence indicated a close relationship between Milton and Onisiforou, with contact between the two via mobile phones in the weeks leading up to the raid. It was established that Milton had lodged with Onisiforou at his Beckenham home. Onisiforou was later sentenced to five years in prison for possession of the shotguns, following his conviction at Croydon Crown Court in February.

The ammunition in question was originally seized by police in 2010 during a raid on the home of Mazhar Majeed, the former owner of Croydon Athletic FC. Majeed was under investigation for involvement in a spot-fixing scandal involving Pakistani cricketers. Forensic analysis confirmed that the ammunition marked for destruction by Milton in 2013 was the same as that seized in 2010, raising questions about the handling and disposal procedures. It was revealed that Milton had only marked the ammunition as destroyed on a computer system, but failed to record this action on a separate paper system that required co-signature. As a result, the ammunition was found in a friend’s car three years later.

Further investigations into Milton’s digital devices uncovered a disturbing collection of illegal pornography. On examining his computers, authorities discovered a total of 2,554 illegal images and videos, including eight classified as 'extreme porn.' Many of the most serious images—446 in total—depicted young girls in distress, being raped or forced into sexual acts. Some images contained acts of bestiality, while others were pseudo-images of child pornography, further illustrating the extent of Milton’s depravity.

Judge McKinnon addressed Milton directly during sentencing, stating, 'You are a man who has worked hard, always been employed and to all intents and purposes until these matters came about, a respectful member of the community and so there’s a very substantial fall from grace.'

Milton pleaded guilty to one count of theft by an employee concerning the mobile phones and shotgun cartridges, resulting in a sentence of two years’ imprisonment, reduced from three due to his early guilty plea. Additionally, he was sentenced to eight months for five counts of possessing extreme and child pornography, to be served consecutively with the theft sentence. The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order, restricting him from owning devices capable of internet access without police approval for five years, and mandated that he sign the Sex Offender Register for ten years.

This case highlights the serious breaches of trust and the disturbing criminal behavior of Adrian Milton, whose actions have had profound implications for public safety and the integrity of law enforcement institutions in Croydon.