WASHINGTON POLICE OFFICER STEPHEN PURNELL EXPOSES HIMSELF TO TEEN DURING WEBCHAT IN NORTHUMBRIA
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Stephen Purnell, a trusted police officer and scout leader from Washington, was found to have engaged in inappropriate and illegal behavior involving a minor.The incident, which took place over a series of online conversations, culminated in Purnell exposing himself to a 16-year-old boy during a webcam chat, leaving the teenager feeling 'shocked and embarrassed.' According to court records, Purnell, who was employed by Northumbria Police and also served as an Assistant Commissioner within the scout movement for the Durham area, initiated contact with the young boy through various social media platforms.
The conversations, which spanned from July 2012 to September 2013, began with casual exchanges but soon delved into more personal and inappropriate territory.
Purnell asked the teenager intimate questions, and at one point, he exposed his private parts on camera, an act that the youth described as deeply upsetting.
The court was informed that Purnell had previously received a warning about his social media conduct.
Around 2010, the Scouting District Commissioner had cautioned him for using Facebook to communicate with minors under the age of 18.
Despite this warning, Purnell continued to engage in questionable online interactions, which eventually led to his downfall.
The revelation of his misconduct came to light when police seized his home computer equipment in April 2017 during an investigation into his use of police force computer systems.
It was during this investigation that authorities uncovered evidence of his online activities, including messages exchanged with the teenager via MSN, Facebook, and Snapchat.
Prosecutor Paul Reid explained that initial conversations appeared innocent, focusing on everyday topics, but later shifted to more personal and sexual subjects.
Purnell reportedly expressed that he believed he was bisexual and inquired whether the teen watched pornography or had considered experimenting sexually with a man.
In one of the most troubling moments, Purnell exposed his private parts on camera during a webcam session.
Following this, he apologized in subsequent messages, describing the incident as 'webcam c**p' and expressing regret that the teen had seen it, stating, 'It is not something you should have seen, sorry.' When questioned by police, Purnell claimed that he had only engaged in 'banter' with the boy and denied ever talking over webcam.
However, the evidence was sufficient for him to plead guilty to the charge of exposure.
At Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Stephen Earl sentenced Purnell to a community order for two years, which includes supervision requirements and a financial penalty of £1,500.
Additionally, Purnell is required to register as a sex offender for five years.
The judge expressed concern over the fact that Purnell had already been warned about inappropriate social media contact, despite having received safeguarding training.
The court emphasized the seriousness of his actions, especially given his role as a police officer and scout leader, and the breach of trust involved in his misconduct.
