A Senior Merseyside Police Detective Fired Over Paying for Sex with 17-Year-Old Boy
The Merseyside police force has dismissed a detective without notice after he pleaded guilty to paying for sex with a 17-year-old boy. DC John Rigby, 37, from St Helens, will face sentencing in January but his dismissal from the force was deemed "the only appropriate outcome".
Rigby's actions were seen as "wholly inconsistent" with the values expected of police officers by Chief Constable Rob Carden, who chaired the misconduct hearing. He stated that paying for sex with a child is "inconsistent with the 21st century" and can bring policing into disrepute.
The detective pleaded guilty to one charge of paying for sexual services from a male child aged 16 or 17, as well as a second charge of unauthorised access to the force's computer system. The latter charge concerned accessing the system three times in March and April for information on two males without a policing purpose.
Carden highlighted that children who turn to sex work are among the "most vulnerable in society" and praised the police force for taking swift action against Rigby's misconduct. He noted that Rigby's actions were deliberate and that no mitigation had been provided or resignation tendered, making dismissal without notice the only suitable outcome.
Rigby's name has also been added to the College of Policing barred list, which prohibits him from working in a policing role again. His salary was stopped when he was remanded in custody in November, following police regulations.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding values and standards within law enforcement agencies, ensuring that officers serve their communities with compassion and integrity.
The Merseyside police force has dismissed a detective without notice after he pleaded guilty to paying for sex with a 17-year-old boy. DC John Rigby, 37, from St Helens, will face sentencing in January but his dismissal from the force was deemed "the only appropriate outcome".
Rigby's actions were seen as "wholly inconsistent" with the values expected of police officers by Chief Constable Rob Carden, who chaired the misconduct hearing. He stated that paying for sex with a child is "inconsistent with the 21st century" and can bring policing into disrepute.
The detective pleaded guilty to one charge of paying for sexual services from a male child aged 16 or 17, as well as a second charge of unauthorised access to the force's computer system. The latter charge concerned accessing the system three times in March and April for information on two males without a policing purpose.
Carden highlighted that children who turn to sex work are among the "most vulnerable in society" and praised the police force for taking swift action against Rigby's misconduct. He noted that Rigby's actions were deliberate and that no mitigation had been provided or resignation tendered, making dismissal without notice the only suitable outcome.
Rigby's name has also been added to the College of Policing barred list, which prohibits him from working in a policing role again. His salary was stopped when he was remanded in custody in November, following police regulations.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding values and standards within law enforcement agencies, ensuring that officers serve their communities with compassion and integrity.
this is just disgusting 
what was he thinking?! 37 years old and still acting like a pervert? 
paying for sex with a 17-year-old boy, who even is he supposed to be helping? 
the police are meant to protect us not exploit us 
and now he's just gone without notice, good riddance 
at least the chief constable saw sense and took action 
this is so wrong, how can someone in a position of power do such a thing to a minor? 
it's disgusting, I'm actually glad they got rid of him, but what about the other officers who might have covered for him or been aware of what was going on? 
we need more transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies, this is a huge letdown for the community 
. It just goes to show how important it is for police officers to maintain their integrity and values, especially when it comes to vulnerable members of society like children. I hope Rigby gets the help he needs and can move forward from this incident 
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? police officers are supposed to be role models, but instead they're setting a bad example and bringing disrepute to the force... hope he gets some serious time for this 
The fact that he paid for sex with a 17-year-old boy is just horrific and I can see why they had to fire him on the spot. The kids who turn to sex work are already super vulnerable, we need to protect them from people like this! 
The police force has shown that they're committed to upholding values and standards, and that's what we need more of in the world! 