Former Blackpool officer’s teen sex chats

A former police officer who cyber-stalked a 15-year-old girl was caught when police made a check on him.
Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court

Ian Sutcliffe called himself “daddy” and swapped messages of a sexual nature with the teenager while his wife slept in bed beside him.

He had previous convictions for possessing, making and distributing indecent pictures of a child and was on an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) at the time.

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Sutcliffe, a 58-year-old former special police constable, of Cookson Street, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to breaching a SOPO.

He was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on December 9 by Blackpool magistrates.

Presiding magistrate, Brenda Wildish, told him: “Your behaviour is escalating and that is a cause for concern. You are seeking out young girls to talk to.”

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said Sutcliffe was convicted of having indecent pictures of a child in 2008 and 2011.

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One of the conditions of the SOPO he was placed on banned him from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16.

On November 14, police made a routine visit to Sutcliffe’s home. He appeared nervous when officers wanted to check his mobile phone and laptop. They discovered a conversation via Kik Chat Messenger with a 15-year-old girl.

When interviewed, Sutcliffe admitted he contacted the teenager, who lived in America. He said they engaged in text conversations of a sexual nature.

The prosecution said: “He said during the chat his wife would be in bed with him. She was unaware.

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“He said he was mentally aroused. He said he was role-playing. He does not seem able to control his urges.”

Gary McAnulty, defending, said Sutcliffe admitted having three conversations with the girl. There was no chance he would have met her as she lived in America.