PCSO jailed for online sex offences
A West Yorkshire police community support officer (PCSO) has been sentenced to ten months in prison after admitting two “reprehensible” online sexual offences with an undercover officer he believed was a teenage girl.
David Mallard, who was based at the Leeds North West Neighbourhood Policing Team, admitted two offences of attempting to cause a female aged 13 or over to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
West Yorkshire Police said an investigation had been launched into Mallard in July last year and on his arrest he was suspended from the force while inquires got underway.
He was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday (August 26). He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order that bars him from working with children.
Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Bottomley, head of West Yorkshire Police Professional Standards Directorate, said: “As a PCSO, Mallard held a position of trust and he agreed to abide by the Code of Ethics and the standards expected of him.
“His behaviour was totally reprehensible and contradicts the values and standards that both the force and, quite rightly, the public would expect of any West Yorkshire Police employee.
“I hope that his conviction and sentence demonstrates that no one is above the law and we will take action against anyone who commits a criminal offence.
“Mallard remains suspended from the force and will now face a misconduct hearing in due course.”
