Police ashamed of child porn colleague

Christopher Wratten, 48, used his credit card to subscribe to sick websites featuring indecent images of children while he was a serving officer.

The former Sussex Police inspector quit when he was charged after he was nailed by Operation Ore '” a nationwide investigation into paedophiles pay-to-view child abuse websites.

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Bartlett, of Sussex Police, told the Observer: "The offences for which he was convicted are extremely serious and each image reflects a child being seriously abused and by his activities he has contributed to this market.

"We are ashamed of him having committed these offences while he was a police officer but the investigation being carried out by Sussex Police in conjunction with Kent CPS has shown that while such conduct by officers comes to light we will pursue and investigate it to high standards with integrity."

DCI Bartlett said: "The whole nature of Operation Ore has identified people of all walks of life involved in this type of crime and the Chief Constable and the Police Authority have shown that they are prepared to commit resources to tackling it."

Lewes Crown Court heard how Wratten, who was based at Hastings and had been an officer for 29 years, claimed he had downloaded the pictures to collect evidence.

A hearing last month was shown images found on disks belonging to Wratten which boasted of "X-Rated" porn and featured young boys and girls being sexually abused.

On Friday Wratten, formerly of Bancroft Road, Bexhill, was jailed for six months after a judge described the offences as "evil and sordid."