A Greater Manchester Police officer has avoided jail, despite downloading thousands of sick child abuse images over a 10-year period. The disturbing photographs and videos were uncovered by Thomas Woods’ pregnant wife after she looked through his phone, suspecting that he was having an affair.
His wife - who was not named in court but is also a serving police officer - asked a friend for advice after discovering the images, prosecution barrister Mark Pritchard told Minshull Street Crown Court. She later told the same woman, referred to in court as Ms Spencer, that the images were being used as part of an investigation, to 'lure' predators in, following a conversation with Woods.
Ms Spencer suspected that she was being lied to and reported Woods, 34, to the police. GMP's Sexual Offences Unit denied that any such investigation was taking place and Woods was subsequently arrested.
At the time of the offence, Woods was an active police constable in GMP's Salford district. He has been suspended from the force since his arrest and misconduct proceedings will commence "in due course", GMP confirmed.
The court heard that across Woods’ two phones and his laptop, there were 2,567 indecent images - 678 of which were in the most serious category. The images featured children aged between three and 16-years-old and had been downloaded between 2010 and 2021 - with some pre-dating Woods joining GMP.
Mr Pritchard said that one of the most serious videos showed a four-year-old girl being raped and told the court that "discernible pain and suffering by children" was an aggravating feature in the case. There was also a 'prohibited' CGI image of children and an 'extreme pornographic' video, featuring a woman and a dog, found on his devices.
Woods, of Brookdale, New Longton, Preston, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing extreme pornography. The judge, Recorder Anthony O'Donohoe told defence barrister Richard Brigden that he had decided to follow the recommendations in the pre-sentence report As a result, Mr Brigden offered no additional mitigation in Woods' defence.
Woods, who sobbed in the dock throughout the hearing, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. Recorder O'Donohoe said: "For part of the time, you were a serving police officer. You should have known better and the public have the right to expect higher standards of behaviour from police officers."
Under the terms of his suspended sentence, Woods will have to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabiliation activity requirement days. He is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and will have to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years. Recorder O'Donohoe added: "You will inevitably lose your employment as a police officer and, in fact, you will leave the police service in disgrace."
Following the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Jones, of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch said: "Possessing indecent images is disgusting behaviour from a police officer, who members of the public trust to fight crime and keep people safe. Greater Manchester Police's officers and staff are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour and those who fall below these standards are investigated and, when relevant, prosecuted. Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings, misconduct proceedings will commence in due course.”
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