Superintendent found guilty of child abuse image offence
A senior Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer has been found guilty of possessing an indecent video after being sent the clip by her sister.
Superintendent Novlett Robyn Williams was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Tuesday (November 19) but not guilty of corrupt/improper exercise of police powers and privileges by a constable.
Her sister, Jennifer Hodge, was convicted of distributing the indecent video.Hodge’s partner, Dido Massivi, was found guilty of the same offence plus further counts of distributing an indecent image of a child and possession of extreme pornography after more material was found on his phone.
The “disturbing and disgusting” video of a five-year-old girl engaging in sex acts was sent by Hodge, a former teaching assistant, on February 3, 2018.
It was sent via Whatsapp to 17 people with the message: “Sorry I had to send this. So sad.
“This is a very sick person who needs to get life. You can’t leave your children with your boyfriend.”
Recipients included Supt Williams and a female teacher.
The teacher immediately alerted the police and the following day attended a police station. That evening Hodge and Massivi were arrested.
The court was shown body-worn video of Hodge’s arrest and detention in police custody. She was overheard calling Supt Williams and mentioning the video clip.
Supt Williams was interviewed under caution in March 2018 for the offence of possessing the indecent image. She was also accused of corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges by a constable under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 after failing to report that her sister had sent the indecent video.
Supt Williams denied opening the message, but prosecutors claimed she knew from the thumbnail of the clip what had been sent to her.
All three were served with postal requisition charges in February this year.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner (Professionalism) Matthew Horne said: “The prosecution called this a ‘sad case’ and referred to the ‘serious errors of judgment’ made by those involved. The court heard that Supt Williams has led a distinguished career in policing and previously been commended for her professionalism.”
He added that the Independent Office for Police Conduct is carrying out an independent misconduct investigation into the actions of Supt Williams and the MPS will await the outcome of that inquiry before commenting further.
All three will be sentenced on November 26.
Supt Williams remains on restricted duties.
