Staffordshire Police officer who admitted child sex offences is sacked
A Staffordshire Police officer who admitted five counts of child sex offences has been sacked by the force.
Pc Lee Tatton, 54, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and four counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child at Birmingham Crown Court earlier this month.
Tatton, who was based in the force’s Northern Resolution Centre, was suspended after he was arrested on December 10 last year by the force’s specialist Operation Safenet team.
A special case hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Gareth Morgan, held today, concluded that Tatton’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice. Tatton did not attend the hearing and was dismissed in his absence.
Chief Constable Gareth Morgan said: “Officers swear an oath to serve the people of Staffordshire with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality – and the overwhelming majority of officers and staff are loyal to that promise.
“Lee Tatton has fallen far short of the high standards expected by the public and the force and his discreditable conduct has led to his dismissal.”
Tatton will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on November 2 2020.
