Detective who 'boasted about sex with boys' jailed after sting by his own police force

A detective who boasted about sex with a 14-year-old boy was caught after a sting by his own police force.

Christopher Richards, 45, was jailed for six years at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday after being exposed in an undercover police operation.

He discussed abusing children with an officer posing as an online paedophile called ‘Lee’.

Richards told ‘Lee’: “I’m just looking for other guys like me to meet up for sex with boys TBH (to be honest).”

And he is also said to have asked to meet Lee’s son, adding: “If I get to make love to your step-son, I will appreciate it too.”

Richards, who worked for Leicestershire Police, also described taking part in sex acts with a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old.

He added he “never had a chance with younger” children.

Prosecutor Stephen Kemp told Nottingham Crown Court how Richards messaged a 13-year-old boy on Snapchat while he was in a school Spanish class.

Richards told the teen he was ‘hot’ and asked him to send pictures of himself.

He replied saying he did not send pictures of his bottom, prompting the defendant to reply: “Oh, okay, I don’t mind. I just like boys LOL.”

Richards also downloaded dozens of indecent images of children, including babies, on his Apple Macbook before using data-erasing app Shreddit to delete the files.

The images on the computer – including three in the most depraved Category A – were created between July and August 2016.

He was arrested on 11 March 2020 at his home in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

Richards admitted making indecent images of children but denied attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

A jury found him guilty and he was jailed for six years.

Speaking outside court, Detective Superintendent Rich Ward Head of the Professional Standards Department at Leicestershire Police, said: “Richards should have been a person who the public and force could trust without question to carry out his duty as a police officer and to demonstrate the highest level of personal and professional behaviour.

“He has severely breached this trust we had in him by committing these abhorrent offences.

“This behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by us as a force.”

Richards was found not guilty of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

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