PRESTON POLICE OFFICER ROBERT SHALE CAUGHT IN CHILD ABUSE CHAT SCANDAL
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Preston, former police officer Robert Shale, aged 50, was found guilty of engaging in heinous online conversations involving the sexual exploitation of children.The incident, which unfolded over a period of months, revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.
Shale, who had served for Lancashire Constabulary for 22 years before his suspension, was arrested after being lured into conversations by undercover officers from different police forces.
These officers, posing as adults, engaged him in online chats where he believed he was communicating with individuals interested in arranging sexual encounters with minors.
The court heard that Shale resided in Tower Green, Fulwood, Preston, and was a married father of children.
The first incident took place at the end of August 2017, when an undercover officer operating under the alias 'Mummy G' initiated a private chat on Chatstep.com.
During this exchange, the officer, pretending to be a woman, engaged Shale in a conversation about her supposed 11-year-old daughter.
Shale, unaware that he was speaking to an officer, discussed disturbing sexual acts involving the child, including explicit details about sharing his penis and engaging in sexual activity with her.
The conversation was progressing towards a planned meeting, with Shale believing 'Mummy G' was from the North West, although she claimed to be from the East Midlands.
The discussion ended when the officer indicated the meeting would not proceed, and no contact was made.
Further investigations revealed that in January 2018, Shale re-engaged in online chats with another undercover officer, this time using the aliases '48 Preston', 'Dave Lancs', and 'Dave D'.
These conversations, spanning from January 4 to January 22, involved discussions about children as young as nine, with Shale expressing interest in sexual activities with minors under 16.
The officer, under the alias 'Jackie', introduced him to a fictitious 12-year-old girl and her 13-year-old cousin, Jade.
Shale suggested grooming strategies to encourage the girls to engage in sexual conversations, with the ultimate aim of arranging meetings involving himself, the girls, and 'Jackie'.
Police authorities acted swiftly once these conversations came to light.
Shale was arrested at his Preston home on February 5, 2018, and was questioned but chose to remain silent during initial interviews.
He later claimed that his online interactions were purely fantasy and that he never intended to carry out any actual abuse.
Despite his denials, the evidence against him was overwhelming.
During sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Robert Warnock summarized the gravity of Shale's actions.
He emphasized that Shale believed he was orchestrating a sexual assault against children, but in reality, he was communicating with police officers.
The judge stated, 'I do not accept physical injuries sustained in the course of your duties were the cause of this behaviour — you still had a sexual interest in children that must be addressed.' Shale was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to attend the Horizon programme to address sex offending.
Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and ordered to pay £2,000 in court costs.
The court also revealed that Shale would receive a lump sum of £38,000 from his police pension, along with his full pension benefits at a later date.
Since his arrest, Shale has been living with his parents in Preston, sleeping on a sofa, and maintaining limited contact with his children, seeing them twice a week.
His wife, Dawn, was present in court and continues to support him despite the allegations and conviction.
The case has raised serious concerns about safeguarding and the conduct of individuals entrusted with public safety, highlighting the importance of vigilance and thorough investigations in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation.
