Former Beds Police officer jailed after targeting vulnerable teenage girls

A former Bedfordshire Police officer who targeted vulnerable teenage girls over social media for sexual gratification has been jailed for over three years today (Wednesday 16 October).

Elliot Wright, aged 29 from Henlow, Bedfordshire, was working as an officer in the collaborated Roads Policing Unit when he arranged to meet a teenage girl who was at risk after finishing a shift on 21 March this year.

The girl, from Hertfordshire, was subject to a deprivation of liberty order for her own safety. Staff at her care home contacted police when they saw her getting into a car, and officers were able to track down Wright’s vehicle near his home in Bedfordshire a short time later and arrested him.

The victim told officers Wright had asked her to delete his messages before he was stopped. Following his arrest by Hertfordshire Constabulary officers, detectives traced potential further victims on his social media including a 16-year-old girl who he had paid in return for sexual images.

An investigation into Wright, led by Hertfordshire Constabulary, showed he had been aware she was vulnerable and often needed money to buy food. He offered her £3 on one occasion for images.

He was soon charged and was immediately suspended by Bedfordshire Police at the time of his arrest. He had his vetting removed and was dismissed from the force in July.

Wright pleaded guilty to three counts of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, arranging the sexual exploitation of a child, abduction of a child in care, paying for the sexual services of a child and perverting the course of justice. A further charge of misconduct in a public office, which he denied, was ordered to lay on his file.

He was sentenced by a High Court judge to a total of 42 months at St Albans Crown Court, and will serve half his sentence in prison and the second half on licence. Wright was also granted an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Inspector Fay Tooley, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Safeguarding Command, said: “Firstly, I would like to praise both victims who have been incredibly brave and co-operative throughout this difficult period. They have been supported by specialist child sexual exploitation officers throughout the investigation.”

DI Tooley added: “Elliot Wright has brought shame on the policing profession. His victims needed help and support, and he offered the opposite.

“Instead, Wright exploited their vulnerability for his own sexual gratification and abused his position of trust.

“The public rightly expects the highest level of personal standards and professional behaviour by police officers, and Wright has undermined this.

“I hope today’s custodial sentence provides some reassurance that we take these cases seriously and will always provide full support and seek to bring offenders to justice.

“Being a victim of sexual offences is never your fault and we have specially trained officers on hand to help.”

You can report information online, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.

In addition, anyone in Hertfordshire who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence can contact the Herts Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for practical and emotional support.

The centre can arrange face-to-face support, sexual health referrals, and provide forensic medical examinations for those who want them.

To contact Herts SARC, call 0330 223 0099 or visit the website.