The Ministry of Defence Police says it fully condemned the actions of a serving firearms officer found with scores of illegal images of children.
Earlier this week, 24-year-old Andrew Stevenson appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court to face a number of charges.
Stevenson pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child.
The court heard police officers executed a search of his Ulverston address last August after receiving information concerning illegal material. A number of devices were seized. Ninety-four illegal photographs classed in category A — the most serious — were recovered along with 37 in category B and 34 category C.
As a result of his admissions, Stevenson must now sign the sex offenders’ register and is due to be sentenced for his crimes by a judge at Carlisle Crown Court next month.
A prosecutor told magistrates that Stevenson, now of West Park Crescent, Kilmaurs, is a serving, authorised firearms officer based in Barrow-in-Furness. He is employed by the Ministry of Defence Police.
In a statement released after the hearing, a spokesman said: “The Ministry of Defence Police fully condemns the actions of this officer.
“Upon confirmation from Cumbria Constabulary that their investigation had led to PC Stevenson being charged, he was suspended from duty.
“Following the outcome in court, PC Stevenson will be subject to internal disciplinary action. It would not be appropriate to comment further until this has concluded.”
