A PAEDOPHILE police officer has walked free from court despite downloading 1,600 indecent images of children.

Canvey-based PC Clive Hansen was caught with some of the most vile images of child sexual abuse imaginable in November last year.

Judge David Goodin, sitting at Ipswich Crown Court, referred to the Essex Police officer's "exemplary" conduct previously and urged him to stop looking at this type of "stuff".

Hansen, 53, of Borrowdale Close, Benfleet, had previously admitted three counts of making indecent pictures and one offence of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

He was handed a four month jail term, suspended for 12 months.

The court heard how the force received a tip off that one of their officers was downloading child abuse images.

Officers went to his home, seized a laptop and arrested him when he returned from his shift.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said: "He gave no comment during his first interview. Later he did describe how he had had a problem for a long time."

Hansen was caught with 17 images at category A, the most extreme abuse, 26 at category B and 1,576 at category C, as well as another prohibited image.

Hansen, representing himself, told the court he was not contesting the case and he was aware by accessing the images he was "perpetuating the abuse which is going on at the other end".

He said: "I am so ashamed of what I have done. There is no excuse. I am so sorry for everybody that has been involved in this sad situation.

"I would be so grateful if the sentence could be suspended to allow me to put right the wrongs I have done and allow me to make a contribution, the best I can, to the community.

"I fully understand the consequences of my actions, I did not at the time."

Hansen told the court he had been looking at images for about 11 months.

Echo:

During his career, Hansen had been based at Rayleigh police station and took a lead in promoting Horsewatch, a scheme set up to protect animals and their owners from theft.

He has also been involved in promoting youth services to the public and stamping out antisocial behaviour.

Judge Goodin said: "In my judgement there are not very many of these category A images but here they are.

"Bearing in mind your background of exemplary character, any sentence I make I know must take that into account.

"All the indications are your remorse was real and there were particular factors that seem to have pushed you in this unhealthy direction."

Hansen was also sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work, given a sexual harm prevention order for seven years and he will be on the sex offenders' register for the same period.

Judge Goodin gave him 60 days of rehabilitation activity requirement so he can have "face to face help to deal with, and support, to ensure you are not tempted to go back to all that stuff".

Sacked without notice

POLICE chiefs moved quickly to sack a paedophile PC on the day he was spared jail.

PC Clive Hansen, based in Rayleigh, had been suspended from duties since admitting hree counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing a prohibited images when he appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court last month.

A special case hearing, chaired by chief constable Stephen Kavanagh, was held at Chelmsford County Court at the same time as Hansen’s sentencing hearing at Ipswich Crown Court.

It found that Hansen, who was based at Canvey police station, had breached the standards of professional behaviour in the area of discreditable conduct.

He was dismissed without notice.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Kavanagh said: "The protection of public confidence in policing is vital if we are to face the scourge of child abuse imagery and other crimes in the modern age.

"Police officers should as part of their professional duties commit to the protection of the weak and the innocent. 

"Every abuse image of a child re-victimises that vulnerable individual and is abhorrent to society.

"Those in positions of power are rightly expected by the public and colleagues to adhere to appropriate standards of behaviour. 

"The creation and storage of such a large number of child abuse images by someone sworn to protect the public demands a clear message that I am confident will be supported not just by senior colleagues but all colleagues in Essex Police.”