Following a “lengthy and complex” investigation two retired Metropolitan Police officers have been charged with child sex offences, one of which is a former Chief Inspector.
Jack Addis, 63, of no fixed address and Jeremy Laxton, 62, from Lincolnshire will appear before Westminster Magistrate’s Court on 9 February.
The two former Metropolitan cops were charged after an investigation into a serving Met Police chief inspector who was found dead before he could face criminal charges, who has been named as 49-year-old Richard Watkinson.
Watkinson was found dead on 12 January in Buckinghamshire, and he was serving as a Chief Inspector for neighbourhoods policing, in the West Area Command Unit.
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He was due to be charged with conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children, along with three counts of making indecent photos of a minor, two counts of misconduct in public office, and voyeurism.
Commander Jon Savell, who leads the Met’s professional standards team, said that Watkinson was facing “extremely serious and concerning charges as the result of a painstaking and thorough police investigation.”
He insisted that the Metropolitan Police had no previous information over the serious and concerning allegations made against Wilkinson or to indicate the Chief Inspector “posed a risk to the public,” whilst serving.
This comes after Humberside Police’s Chief Constable, Lee Freeman said, “trust has been severely damaged” for police forces across the UK and “police legitimacy is hanging by a thread,” following David Carrick who pleaded guilty this week, to 49 criminal charges, including 24 counts of rape against 12 women.
Commander Jon Savell said, “Chief Inspector Watkinson was facing extremely serious and concerning charges, as the result of a painstaking and thorough police investigation.
“Before this matter came to light, we had no previous information about these allegations or to indicate the officer posed any risk to the public.
“He had not faced any other criminal or conduct matters during his Met career. He had been suspended from duty since his arrest.
“Two other men were also arrested during the course of the investigation and have been charged. Their matters will now progress through the courts.”
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