August 2016 Ex-special constable jailed over child sex A former special constable who groomed and engaged in sexual activity with a child has been jailed for five years. American Luke Richardson sent about 4,000 messages to a 14-year-old girl from Essex and met her in a hotel, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. The 22-year-old had previously been dismissed by the force after he stole uniform and visited schools without authorisation. Richardson, of Salford, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court. He was also given a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for life. He admitted six counts of sexual activity with a child, one of grooming and one of taking indecent photographs of a child. GMP suspended Richardson in January 2014 after finding he had “used his role inappropriately” while entering a school without authorisation on an independent patrol. But, after removing his uniform and warrant card from him, Richardson was again found to have gone to a sixth form college while wearing police uniform. On searching his home, officers found a large quantity of police uniform to the value of £970 and arrested him on suspicion of theft. Subsequent allegations of inappropriate contact with children prompted a new investigation in September 2015. Richardson’s confiscated phone and computer revealed 4,000 messages had been sent to a 14-year-old girl in Essex. She revealed they had met up in a hotel booked by Richardson. He was then charged with a number of sexual offences and remanded in custody before being formally dismissed in April.