Former Bedfordshire Police inspector who tried to arrange child sex jailed

A former police inspector has been jailed for making indecent pictures of children and trying to arrange to meet children for sex.

John Nichols, 51, was given a 30-month sentence and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

The officer, who worked for Bedfordshire Police until the allegations came to light, pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent images of children, and attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence.

He was caught having sexually explicit and graphic conversations in chat rooms.

Nichols said he liked "yng girls" and suggested to one user that he would like to meet his daughters for sex and that they should wear Hello Kitty underwear.

Nichols, who's married and from Bedford, told the same user in another conversation that younger girls were "less likely to tell and remember when older". He also sent images of his genitalia.

Thirty-nine category C pictures were found on his devices.

He was caught after a covert online investigation by London's Metropolitan Police

Louise Clissold, a senior crown prosecutor, said: "As a serving police officer, it is hugely concerning that such sexually explicit messaging and indecent images of children were found on John Nichols' phone.

"Although no sexual activity is known to have taken place, Nichols' actions were vile and a grave abuse of trust."

Assistant Chief Constable Sharn Basra, from Bedfordshire Police, said the offences were "vile".

"Nichols was immediately removed from all duties as soon as these allegations came to light, and then retired from the force prior to his first hearing," said Mr Basra.