SHARON PATTERSON AND LEE POLLARD FROM ESSEX POLICE SABOTAGE CHILD SEX ABUSE CASES

Two police officers from Essex, Detective Constables Sharon Patterson and Lee Pollard, have been accused of deliberately undermining multiple investigations into child sexual abuse over a span of three years. The Old Bailey heard that their actions were driven by a combination of cynical disdain for the victims and a lack of effort, which ultimately compromised justice.

Both officers, who were in a personal relationship, engaged in a pattern of misconduct that included forging official documents and concealing crucial evidence. Their communication about these illicit activities was revealed during court proceedings, with Pollard reportedly thanking Patterson via email, referring to her as his 'partner in deceptive crime.' This exchange highlights the extent of their collusion and intent to obstruct investigations.

One of the cases involved a teenage girl who alleged that she had been repeatedly raped by her father from the age of six, a trauma she endured for approximately five years. Her claims appeared to be supported by allegations from her sister. During the investigation, Patterson interviewed the mother of the girl, who provided information deemed 'highly relevant' to the case. However, Patterson falsely recorded that the mother was 'unwilling' to make a statement, a claim that was later challenged.

Evidence showed that the mother was persistent in seeking updates about her daughter's case. She left an 'urgent' message with another officer, requesting Patterson to provide an update. Instead of responding appropriately, Patterson emailed her colleague with a dismissive tone, writing: 'URGENT!!!! F***ing cheek of the woman!! I have left tons of messages on her answer machine and she NEVER responds to them.'

Further allegations revealed that Patterson advised a supervisor to drop the case altogether, suggesting that the allegations were fabricated by a 'bitter' ex-wife attempting to make life difficult for her husband, who was described as a 'broken man.' This advice contributed to the decision not to escalate the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a charging decision. The supervisor cited the mother's unwillingness to corroborate the evidence as a key reason for not pursuing the case.

Prosecutors argued that Patterson's deceitful actions directly led to the investigation being prematurely closed, thereby denying the victims the justice they deserved. The court proceedings continue to shed light on the misconduct within Essex Police and the serious implications of such betrayal of public trust.