MERSEYSIDE MAN DIETER RUPP JAILED FOR DOWNLOADS AND GERMANY MEETINGS

In June 2014, a man from Merseyside was sentenced to prison after downloading over 6,000 child abuse images. Dieter Rupp, aged 45, a community support officer with Merseyside police, was arrested in Germany in March 2012, where he had traveled to meet a 13-year-old boy he had met through online gaming.

Although he was not initially charged with any offense, Interpol contacted Merseyside police after discovering documents indicating Rupp’s employment with the police force. A month later, officers from the public protection unit raided his residence on Wright Street, Southport, seizing his computers for forensic analysis, and Rupp was suspended from duty.

Prosecutor Will Beardmore told Liverpool Crown Court that during a welfare check, Rupp admitted there would be child porn images on his devices, explaining he had downloaded them to relieve stress. Subsequently, authorities found a total of 6,481 indecent images of children on his hard drives, including 80 of the highest classification, 1,789 indecent cartoon images, and four videos depicting children being abused.

Rupp escaped to France via ferry from Dover and was later extradited back to the UK. He appeared in Liverpool court in February, where he pleaded guilty to eight charges of possessing indecent images of a child. The court was informed that additional charges related to making indecent images could not be pursued due to a mistake in the extradition process.

Defence lawyer Mike Hegarty described Rupp as “disgusted with himself” and a “damaged individual.”

Judge Stephen Everett sentenced Rupp to 29 months in prison, labeling him a “risk to children” due to his “deviant inclinations.” The judge remarked, “You tricked your way into Merseyside Police. You became a trusted PCSO. High standards are expected. You didn’t meet the standard expected of ordinary members of the public, let alone police officers. I cannot ignore that this all stemmed from you traveling to Germany to see a 13-year-old boy, despite your claim you intended to help him. You told the probation service that this child loved you and wanted to marry you. Had these events occurred in this country, I have little doubt you would have been convicted of the serious sexual offense of grooming a child for sexual activity.”

Rupp was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and placed under a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years.