Bedfordshire police officer pleads guilty to paying children for sexual services and other sexual offenses against children

A Bedfordshire police officer is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to several offenses involving sexual exploitation of a child.

Elliot Wright, 29, committed the crimes while working as an officer for Bedfordshire Police in the joint Roads Policing Unit.

He admitted,

• Two charges of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child
• Arranging the sexual exploitation of a child
• Kidnapping of children
• Paying for the sexual services of a 16 or 17 year old girl
• Enticing or inducing a child to engage in prostitution or pornography
• Perverting the course of justice.

A new allegation of misconduct in public office, which he denied, has been ordered by the court to be included in his file.

An expedited misconduct hearing yesterday (September 27) found Wright had breached the standards of professional conduct of honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and disgraceful conduct.

This amounted to serious misconduct, meaning that the Chief Commissioner ruled that he would have been dismissed if his employment had not already been terminated following the withdrawal of his vetting.

Wright has also been placed on the College of Policing’s Barred List, which bans him from ever returning to law enforcement or similar professions.

Read: Bedfordshire police officer accused of child abduction and sexual exploitation

Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst said: “I have an absolute standard when it comes to the expectations of my officers, and there is no room for those who break the law or abuse their position in any way.

“Police officers are trained to identify vulnerability so they can protect people from harm. Wright used that training and his position as a police officer to abuse some of the most vulnerable young girls for his own means.

“This officer’s actions have significantly damaged public trust and have made the job even more difficult for those who continue to do their utmost to serve the public.

“There is categorically no place in this police force, or in any police force, for someone who behaves in this way.”

Wright will be sentenced for the offenses in October.