'Your actions were abhorrent' - Former Staffordshire police officer sentenced for sexual communication with a child

Former PC Ryan Clinton, of Tamworth, was sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child at Cannock Magistrates' Court on October 16. 

The 30-year-old, who was a police officer at the time, spoke to someone who was posing as a 13-year-old girl on a social media platform on December 4 and 5 last year.

He was reported and officers arrested him and seized his mobile phone at his home on December 5, 2023. 

Clinton admitted the offence in interview and resigned.

He was sentenced to a community service order for two years, up to 40 community requirement days, six months mental health treatment and 100 hours unpaid work. 

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.  

A misconduct hearing held last Thursday and chaired by Chief Constable Chris Noble found there was a case to answer for gross misconduct and that Clinton would have been dismissed had he not resigned.

Clinton will be placed on the national College of Policing’s Barred List, preventing him from working within policing and other law enforcement bodies.

Deputy Chief Constable Jon Roy said: “Clinton’s actions were abhorrent and his behaviour is totally at odds with the oath that he took when he became a police officer and what the public rightly expect.

“Clinton’s offending was identified, investigated and acted upon quickly, leading to him pleading guilty at the first opportunity and his conviction at court.”