Cerrig Shardlow

A former police sergeant from Slough has been handed a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Cerrig Shardlow, aged 46, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on October 4, 2024, following an incident that occurred on May 31, 2022.

Shardlow, who was based at Slough police station, attempted to communicate with an individual he reasonably believed to be under the age of 16 for the purpose of sexual gratification. During the communication, he made enquiries about the person's sexual experiences and physical appearance, actions that breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour expected of police officers. He did not have a reasonable belief that the person was over 16 years old.

The case came to light when Shardlow was arrested on June 9, 2022, and immediately suspended from duty by Thames Valley Police. An investigation was launched by the force's Professional Standards Department, leading to Shardlow being charged on March 3, 2023. He entered a guilty plea to one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child during a hearing at Lewes Crown Court on May 2, 2024.

• Offence date: May 31, 2022
• Arrest date: June 9, 2022
• Charge date: March 3, 2023
• Plea date: May 2, 2024
• Sentencing date: October 4, 2024

At sentencing, Shardlow received four months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years. Following the criminal proceedings, Shardlow resigned from Thames Valley Police on the day before an accelerated misconduct hearing scheduled for August 2023. Had he remained in service, he would have been dismissed without notice and placed on the College of Policing's barred list, preventing him from ever working in policing again.

Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs of Thames Valley Police commented on the case, stating: "It is completely unacceptable for a police officer to commit such serious crimes and breach the Standards of Professional Behaviour in this manner. We are absolutely committed to rooting out any members of our workforce who commit crimes of this nature and who fall short of our high expectations. There is no place in Thames Valley Police for officers who commit criminal offences such as this." Snuggs further noted that the outcome should reassure the public of the force's intolerance for criminal activity within its ranks.

The case was reported by the Maidenhead Advertiser on October 6, 2024, highlighting the ongoing efforts by Thames Valley Police to maintain high standards among its officers. This incident underscores the serious consequences faced by those in positions of public trust who engage in child sex offences.