James Gullis

James Gullis, a 28-year-old former police officer based in east Somerset, has been sentenced for committing serious online child sex offences. Gullis pleaded guilty in February to multiple charges, including making indecent images of children in categories A, B, and C, possession of prohibited images of children, and possession of extreme pornography. These offences came to light following information received from the National Crime Agency (NCA), prompting his arrest by Avon and Somerset Police in December 2023.

Upon receiving the intelligence, Avon and Somerset Police acted swiftly, arresting Gullis and suspending him from duty. The criminal investigation ran concurrently with an internal probe by the force's Professional Standards Department. On 18 March 2024, a misconduct hearing, chaired by former Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden, found Gullis guilty of breaching the standards of professional behaviour, specifically honesty and integrity, as well as discreditable conduct. As a result, he was barred from policing and would have been dismissed had he not already resigned.

Gullis was sentenced on 16 April 2025 at a court hearing, where he received a 10-month prison sentence suspended for two years. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to restrict his activities and protect the public. Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall commented on the case, stating: 'He committed horrendous crimes and we moved quickly to arrest him and suspend him from duty as soon as we became aware of his offending. The misconduct process has also ensured he will never be able to work in any law enforcement role ever again.' Hall emphasised the force's commitment to robust action against misconduct, noting that the vast majority of officers uphold high standards in serving their communities.

The case underscores the vigilance of law enforcement agencies in tackling online child exploitation. Avon and Somerset Police continue to investigate related matters and have urged anyone with information to come forward using reference number 5223262926. The full details of the misconduct hearing are available on the force's website in the misconduct section.