Description
Work by specialist detectives has ensured a former Essex Police officer has been jailed for four and-a-half years after admitting a series of online child sexual offences.
Former PC Mark Ling, 38, formerly of Ipswich, had pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual communications with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at Ipswich Crown Court on 18 January.
A reporting restriction was put in place to prevent details of the guilty pleas to be published as there were other ongoing, related matters.
In relation to these matters, he was later charged with a further four counts of sexual communication with a child. He admitted to two of those charges at the same court on 4 February and the other two on 10 February.
The charges all relate to an investigation into the online interactions between Ling and underage girls.
Detectives went through the painstaking task of identifying the girls involved, locating them, and speaking to them securing evidence which left Ling with no option but to admit his guilt.
Today (Thursday 1 May), he was sentenced to four and-a-half years in prison.