JACK ADDIS FROM GRANTHAM INVOLVED IN CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN LONDON
In a disturbing case that has shocked the criminal justice system, two former police officers from Grantham and Grantham have been implicated in a serious conspiracy involving the distribution of child abuse images, with connections to the Metropolitan Police in London.Jack Addis, aged 63, originally from Dumfries and more recently residing in Blairgowrie, was a retired officer who previously served in Scotland before joining the Civil Nuclear Constabulary as an armed officer.
His involvement in this heinous activity has led to a lengthy prison sentence.
Addis appeared at Southwark Crown Court via video link from prison, where he is already serving an 18-month sentence handed down in October 2022 for voyeurism and possession of indecent photographs of a child.
The court heard that Addis conspired with Jeremy Laxton, also 63 and a resident of Grantham, Lincolnshire, and Richard Watkinson, a serving Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector who was responsible for neighbourhood policing in the West Area Command Unit.
The conspiracy spanned from January 1, 2018, to July 10, 2021, during which the three men exchanged and shared some of the most depraved and disturbing images of child abuse.
Investigations uncovered a hard drive containing a staggering number of illegal images: 2,516 in Category A, the most severe, along with 1,032 in Category B and 1,701 in Category C.
These images depicted the most extreme forms of child exploitation and abuse, and the evidence pointed to a deliberate effort to distribute such material among the conspirators.
Laxton, who joined the Metropolitan Police in 1980 and served in various capacities before retiring in 2011, admitted to multiple charges, including making indecent images of children, possessing prohibited and extreme pornographic images, and possessing cannabis.
His criminal record includes over 6,000 Category A images, 4,000 in Category B, and nearly 3,600 in Category C, along with seven prohibited images and 56 extreme images involving bestiality.
Laxton also admitted to encouraging or assisting misconduct in public office, a charge linked to his role as a police officer.
Richard Watkinson, the serving police officer involved, was found dead at his home in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, in January before he could be formally charged.
The authorities confirmed that Watkinson was under investigation for serious allegations related to child exploitation and misconduct.
His death occurred on the day he was scheduled to answer bail, and the Crown Prosecution Service had authorized charges against him, including child sex offences and misconduct in public office.
The investigation into Laxton was initiated after authorities uncovered electronic devices containing indecent images during a separate inquiry in Lincoln.
This led to the discovery of the extensive network of illegal material shared among the conspirators.
The police found that the sharing of these images was ongoing for at least three years, with evidence suggesting the possibility of even longer involvement.
In addition to the images, authorities found that Addis had a personal collection of over 20,000 indecent images stored on a laptop and SD cards kept in his loft.
His previous conviction involved photographing a naked 10-year-old boy and recording a 14-year-old boy showering, offences committed in 2014 and 2015.
His criminal history underscores a pattern of disturbing behavior.
During the court proceedings, Judge Tony Baumgartner acknowledged the severity of the crimes and indicated that a lengthy custodial sentence was inevitable.
Laxton was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison, while Addis received a sentence of three years and nine months for his role in the conspiracy.
The judge also granted Laxton conditional bail ahead of the next hearing scheduled for June 23, allowing him to attempt to put his life back in order while under strict conditions, including residence restrictions, surrendering his passport, and avoiding contact with children.
Metropolitan Police Commander Jon Savell expressed his concern over the case, emphasizing that Watkinson had no prior indications of misconduct before the allegations surfaced.
The case has raised serious questions about oversight and the potential risks posed by individuals within law enforcement involved in such criminal activities, prompting calls for increased vigilance and reform within police ranks.
