Revealed: Former West Midlands Police officer Allan Richards' 40-year campaign of child sex abuse

Allan Richards was today found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault against boys aged 11-15 between 1982 and 2003.

But it can now be revealed that the 54-year-old was convicted of more than 30 offences against boys including rape, gross indecency, sexual activity with a children as young as eight, and voyeurism dating back to the 1970s and as recently as 2013.

Some of the incidents took place at West Midlands police stations - including Birmingham Central Police Station in Steelhouse Lane.

Today West Midlands Police said they were 'sickened' by his crimes, and apologised to victims who had to wait years for justice.

The court also heard that West Midlands Police twice didn't prosecute Richards in 2000 and 2004 after complaints of sexual abuse

Reporting restrictions preventing publication were today lifted following the conclusion of the second and final trial.

Prosecuting, Miss Miranda Moore QC said: "Allan Richards not only abused his position as a Scout master, he misused his position as a police officer with the West Midlands Police force."

Over two trials, Birmingham Crown Court was told he sexually abused boys at police stations, at Scout camps, in swimming pools, in a park, at his home, and other locations that cannot be disclosed.

In total he was convicted of 40 offences against 22 boys.

Today he was also cleared of three counts of indecent assault.

Some of his victims were from troubled backgrounds and already victims of sexual offences.

One told the Express & Star: "I knew it was wrong, but I didnt want to open up to anybody because of him being a police constable. I don't think anybody would believe me. He has messed my life up a lot."

During a search of his home in Thaxted Road, Tile Cross, Birmingham, detectives found a list of male names Richards had a 'sexual interest' in.

They also discovered diaries where Richards kept details of 'touching' boys as well as describing their underwear, and notes of their pubic and body hair.

He also went on to use the force computer to 'keep tabs' on his victims, with these searches representing 25 per cent of all his 8,000 inquiries into the database.

It is believed there are more victims police have been unable to trace.

He escaped prosecution in 2000 and 2004 following complaints to police.

A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service at the time but it was felt there was not enough evidence to convict, according to the police.

The force said it "removed him from public contact" in 2004, but he remained with the force until he retired in 2011.

He was also removed from his post with the Scouts.

Richards was told he would not be prosecuted in January 2005.

It was only in 2014 when another victim came forward that a fresh investigation was launched, resulting in Richards' multiple convictions.

The force referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in May 2015 over its handling of the earlier investigations.

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray branded the offences as the 'ultimate betrayal' and described Richards as a 'predatory paedophile'.

He said: "This feels like the ultimate betrayal. Police officers are there to help the most vulnerable in society and here we have one police officer who has abused his victims and the trust of the organisation.

"I am genuinely sorry for those victims who had their trust abused and were abused.

"How does someone get away with it? This man was a predatory paedophile. He was a Scout leader and he offended at work, he offended at home, and he offended as part of the Scouts. It is pleasing that in 2014 we were able to start an investigation that has brought these convictions."

"Allan Richards has let down the public and the force.

"His crimes are the ultimate breach of trust. He exploited his position and the victims he was meant to be protecting at the lowest point of their lives.

"It is extremely worrying that he was able to remain an officer until as recently as 2011, only a year before the introduction of PCCs.

"I have commissioned a public report into the failings of West Midlands Police to ensure nothing like this can ever happen again. West Midlands Police needs to rapidly rebuild public confidence to make sure Richards's vile crimes do not undermine the good work of the vast majority of officers.

"The force has very serious questions to answer and I will make sure the Chief Constable provides the answers the public - and Richards's victims - deserve.

Richards retired as a sergeant and had spent time working in CID in Birmingham investigating serious crimes and dealing with vulnerable witnesses.

But a fresh investigation was launched in 2014.

Richards had his leader's warrant removed by the Scout movement in 2004 following allegations of sexual abuse against a boy at a camp.

Despite no further action being taken the Scout Association refused to lift the suspension of his warrant and he was banned from being involved with the organisation.

In 2005, Richards was moved to a back office role with the police where he would have no contact with the public.

In total he was found guilty of two rapes, 20 indecent assaults, seven cases of sexual activity with a child, three instances of gross indecency, one count of inciting sexual activity with a child, one charge of a serious sexual assault, five counts of misconduct in public office, and one charge of voyeurism.

He was acquitted of one rape, four charges of indecent assault, and 11 counts of sexual activity with a child.

Richards denied all 56 charges against him and has launched an appeal.

He will be sentenced on November 4.

IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said today: "We are carrying out a thorough, independent investigation into West Midlands Police's handling of the allegations made against Allan Richards while he was a serving police officer.

"The scale of Richards' offending is truly shocking. The fact that he was able to abuse his position of authority and trust as a police officer while committing many of his crimes is of great concern.

"Richards' victims have shown considerable courage in coming forward to expose his crimes and hopefully will take some solace from seeing him finally brought to justice.

"His victims will not be alone in wanting to know if opportunities were missed, and our independent investigation will examine whether more could have been done by the force to uncover his activities sooner.

"We will also seek to establish what lessons can be learned."

The IPCC determined an independent investigation should take place following a referral from West Midlands Police in May 2015.

The investigation was suspended pending the conclusion of the criminal case against Richards.

See Saturday's Express & Star for a special investigation into the Allan Richards case