A former East Sussex police officer has been convicted for attempting to chat online with a minor in a child sex chat sting operation. Damien Gibbons, 48, of Hailsham, previously known as Damien Cotgreave, was found guilty at Guildford Crown Court.
The case, which began on December 18, detailed how Gibbons tried to engage in sexual communication with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. In reality, the individual was an adult vigilante working with the police.
Michelle Shepherd, from Sussex Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), said, “Cotgreave thought he was talking to a 13-year-old girl and engaged in very explicit sexual conversation. But he was actually chatting with an adult who reported it to the police. We acted fast to arrest him and protect children from harm. Anyone suspecting such behaviour should contact the police immediately.”
At the time of his arrest in February 2020, Gibbons was serving as a Detective Constable. He was suspended and later resigned following multiple professional misconduct findings unrelated to this prosecution. A public misconduct hearing held in January 2021 revealed serious breaches of police standards. Subsequently, he was placed on the College of Policing Barred and Advisory list, which prohibits him from any future law enforcement roles.
In April 2021, Gibbons was formally charged and has now been sentenced to a one-year suspended prison sentence. In addition, he received a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which bans him from using computers or having contact with children.
Originally published by UKNIP.
