Ross Coleman

Ross Coleman, a 42-year-old former special sergeant with Northamptonshire Police, was involved in viewing and streaming child abuse material over a two-year period. The case came to light following his arrest in October 2018 at his family home, where police seized electronic devices revealing extensive indecent images.

At Leicester Crown Court on 20 January 2020, the court heard that Coleman had downloaded 80 indecent images of children, including 45 category A files depicting the most severe abuse of girls as young as four years old, 20 category B files, and 15 category C files. These images were found on his personal phone, which contained thumbnails of videos streamed on his Smart TV. Prosecutor Joey Kwong detailed how the material had been accessed as a form of escapism amid Coleman's financial troubles since 2008.

Coleman, who resided in Bates Close, Higham Ferrers, at the time of his arrest and later moved to Wharf Road, admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children. He had been serving on Northamptonshire Police's safer roads team but resigned following the investigation. In mitigation, his barrister Kim Lee explained that Coleman's actions stemmed from financial difficulties, leading him to seek solace in chat sites and the illicit material. Lee noted Coleman's shame and the impact on his life, including losing his home, family, and job as an Asda delivery driver.

• Coleman was supported in court by his parents after being asked to leave by his partner.
• Judge Rhona Campbell addressed him directly, stating: 'These are crimes with victims. If people like you did not sit in your house watching this material there would not be any need for any poor little girls to be taken from their homes and be sexually exploited. They are because there is a market for people like you to watch this stuff. They are someone's daughter...they are all lives that have been affected by this type of offending.'

The judge suspended Coleman's one-year prison sentence for 18 months, citing his efforts to address his addiction through GP consultations. He was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, 35 days of rehabilitation activities, and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order restricting his internet use. Coleman now faces a police gross misconduct hearing.

Detective Constable Jason Cullum, who led the investigation for Northamptonshire Police, commented: 'I am pleased this case has concluded and that justice has been done. It serves as a warning to anybody who thinks they can look at indecent images of children and go unnoticed. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do. You can expect a knock on your door from a police officer and from that moment onwards your whole life will be turned upside down.' The case underscores the force's commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation, with Cullum emphasising that every image represents a victim and perpetuates further abuse.