July 2022

Former Metropolitan Police officer sent sexual messages to schoolboy

A former Metropolitan Police officer has avoided jail after admitting to sending sexual messages to a underage schoolboy.

PC Will Scott-Barrett, 33, was handed a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, at Isleworth Crown Court.

The court previously heard that he pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual communication with a child on or before February 3 last year.

An earlier hearing was told he was in contact with the 15-year-old boy using the Snapchat and Discord social media apps from April 2020.

Scott-Barrett, of Bromley, South East London, sent messages including graphic sexual pictures and videos to the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The officer was off-duty at the time of his offending, which is not said to have been connected with his role in the force. He has since resigned from his post

A spokeswoman from the Metropolitan Police said a misconduct hearing found that if Scott-Barrett had not resigned he would have been dismissed.

During sentencing, Judge Robin Johnson said: “This is undoubtedly a sad case. Sad for you, in that you lost your joband your good character, but also sad, troubling and worrying for the family (of the victim).

Scott-Barrett, wearing a navy suit, light blue shirt and pink patterned tie, remained silent throughout the hearing.

He must undertake rehabilitation for 40 days and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Scott-Barrett has also been ordered to pay a victim surcharge and the statutory surcharge, and may be subject to an order from the Disclosure and Barring Service, depending on if the agency decides it is appropriate.