Thomas Hawkes

A former City of London Police officer, Thomas Hawkes, has been sentenced for sending sexual messages to a 12-year-old girl via Snapchat, in a case described by police as predatory and abhorrent.

The inappropriate communications began on 31 October 2018, when Hawkes, then aged 16, initiated contact with the girl on the social media platform. He asked her age, and upon learning she was 12, he commented that she did not look that age before continuing the conversation. The messages persisted until 26 April 2022, escalating to sexual content despite the significant age difference and her underage status. Hawkes, who joined the City of London Police, continued these interactions even while serving as an officer, an action later condemned as incomprehensible by police leaders.

Hawkes, 23, from Broughton Road in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, was arrested on 14 September 2023 following a tip-off that prompted a search of his mobile phone. The investigation, led by the City of London Police's Professional Standards unit, uncovered the full extent of the Snapchat exchanges. Hawkes had been suspended from his role since June 2023 due to an unrelated matter and resigned on 22 October 2024. He faced an accelerated misconduct hearing for separately sharing body-worn video footage of a police incident with an unauthorised individual, which would have resulted in immediate dismissal had he still been employed.

• Key timeline: Messages from 2018 to 2022; arrest in September 2023; sentencing in late 2024.
• Sentence details: Added to the sex offender register for five years; 25-hour rehabilitation activity requirement; 60 hours of unpaid work; overall two-year community order.

Detective Superintendent Carly Humphreys, Head of Professional Standards at the City of London Police, stated: "The actions of Hawkes were predatory and sexual in nature towards a girl who was only 12 years old. Communicating as he was with an underage victim is abhorrent. To join a police service while continuing to do so, is utterly incomprehensible." She emphasised the force's commitment to protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice, while urging parents to discuss social media safety with children.

Detective Superintendent Bonnie Moore from Essex Police's Professional Standards Department added: "His crimes are appalling and he has no place in policing anywhere. Hawkes’ offending threatens the trust and confidence thousands of our officers, staff and volunteers work to build every day – today’s sentencing and his previous barring from policing are crucial parts of rebuilding that confidence." The case, investigated collaboratively between City of London Police and Essex Police, highlights ongoing efforts to maintain high standards within law enforcement.

City of London Police Commissioner Pete O’Doherty chaired the misconduct hearing and affirmed that Hawkes would have been dismissed without notice. The sentencing ensures the victim has seen justice, with protections for children in Essex prioritised throughout the process.