John William Green

John William Green, known as Will, a 42-year-old former head of corporate communications at Cleveland Police, has been sentenced for possessing indecent images of children. Green admitted to making 79 category C images in January at his home in Wynyard, near Hartlepool, County Durham. The case came to light earlier this year when he was charged, leading to his departure from the force.

Green appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court, where he was handed a 24-month community order instead of a custodial sentence. In addition to the community order, he was required to complete 40 days of rehabilitation activities and was placed on the sex offenders' register for five years. The court heard that the offences were not connected to his professional role, but his position of trust within the police amplified the betrayal felt by his colleagues and the community.

Following the sentencing, Superintendent Paul Waugh from Cleveland Police's directorate of standards and ethics commented on the swift action taken by the force. 'Whilst the offences are not linked to his role, he was in a trusted position in policing, communicating about the core values that he did not uphold,' Waugh stated. 'He has let his colleagues, partner agencies and local communities down.' The police seized computers and other items from Green as part of their investigation.

Prior to his role at Cleveland Police, Green had worked for Northumbria Police and Northumberland NHS Foundation Trust. It is understood that he has since relocated from the area. The incident occurred in the context of broader efforts by law enforcement to combat child sexual exploitation, with Cleveland Police emphasising their commitment to upholding ethical standards.

As Green left the court building shortly before 14:45 GMT on the day of sentencing, he was attacked by an unknown assailant. Cleveland Police arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident. The attack underscores the public outrage often associated with such offences.

This case was reported by the BBC on 16 July 2021, highlighting the ongoing challenges within public institutions to maintain integrity among staff in sensitive positions. Sources include official statements from Cleveland Police and court records from Teesside Magistrates' Court.