ROSS DORRICOTT FROM ASTON-ON-TRENT CONVICTED FOR CHILD SEXUAL IMAGE OFFENSES IN DERBY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Derby police officer Ross Dorricott has been found guilty of downloading and possessing indecent images of children. The conviction was announced after Dorricott, aged 36 and residing in Aston-on-Trent, appeared before Nottingham Crown Court to face serious charges related to his online activities.

During the court proceedings, Dorricott pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent images of a child, with the alleged offenses spanning from August 29, 2006, to April 30, 2014. In addition, he admitted to three similar counts involving the possession of such images, with the dates of these offenses extending from December 1, 2008, to October 21, 2015. The court did not specify the number of images found on his computer or the categories they belonged to, leaving many details undisclosed.

As a result of his guilty plea, Dorricott was sentenced to eight months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits another offense within that period. It was also confirmed that he is no longer employed as a police officer, having been dismissed from the force in April of the same year. His departure from the police service followed a disciplinary process that was initiated after the allegations came to light.

Despite his criminal activities, Dorricott had previously received recognition for his work. In 2014, he was awarded a Divisional Commander’s commendation while serving at Pear Tree police station in Derby. Earlier, in 2010, while based at Swadlincote police station, he participated in an inquest concerning Nigel Simm, a former teacher at Pingle School who was found to have taken his own life.

Derbyshire’s Chief Constable Mick Creedon expressed his outrage over the case, emphasizing the severity of Dorricott’s misconduct. He stated, “Very unusually I sacked Dorricott at a disciplinary hearing in April, which had to be held in private because the criminal proceedings were pending. Ordinarily I would have to wait for the conclusion of the court process.” Creedon further condemned the officer’s actions, saying, “I’m horrified by his behaviour which would be unacceptable for anyone in society. It is far more unacceptable for a police officer, trusted to uphold the law, to act in this way. The public rightly expect the highest possible standards from police officers and he has let his colleagues and the force down and betrayed the trust put in him by the communities we are charged to serve.”

He added that swift action was taken once the allegations surfaced, including the arrest and suspension of Dorricott. The investigation, led by specialist officers, uncovered compelling evidence that indicated this was not an isolated incident. The Chief Constable confirmed that he made the decision to hold a special disciplinary hearing prior to the court case, given the strength of the evidence against him. “I can assure the community that I have taken steps to make sure that he will never work in the police service again,” Creedon concluded, reaffirming the force’s commitment to maintaining integrity and public trust.