GUILTY UK - Two Detectives on Trial for Sabotaging Child Abuse Investigations, Essex, 2011 to 2014

[Tortoise]

Det Con Sharon Patterson, 49, and former DC Lee Pollard, 47, [...]

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy, QC, told the court: 'The allegations represented in these six counts involve forging documents, concealing or destroying evidence and the misrepresentation of the state of investigations and the evidence involved in the investigations to supervising officers,' she said.

'The effect of their conduct was that allegations involving child sex offences were not properly investigated.

Essex Detectives 'destroyed evidence to get child abuse investigations dropped' | Daily Mail Online

 

[Legally Bland]

This is crazy. What on earth were they thinking?
_______________

The officers, who were in a relationship, deliberately entered false information on crime recording documents in order to misrepresent the evidence or potential evidence in investigations, jurors heard.

They allegedly forged other documents purporting to be from CPS lawyers in order to dupe bosses into thinking that a decision had been made to take no further action against suspects.

Pollard is further accused of deliberately destroying four important photographs which were 'relevant and important exhibits' in an investigation whilst Patterson is said to have forged a witness statement and passed it off as having been made by a complainant.

Essex Detectives 'destroyed evidence to get child abuse investigations dropped' | Daily Mail Online


One count against Patterson involves a teenager who said that – from the age of six – she was regularly raped by her father over some five years, which was seemingly supported by a sister’s previous allegations.

Patterson interviewed their mother who gave “highly relevant” details, but the officer instead record that she was “unwilling” to make a statement, it was alleged.

But the mother’s persistence proves this to be “completely untrue”, the prosecutor said, with the mother later leaving an “urgent” message with another officer asking Patterson to update her.

Patterson, jurors heard, emailed back to her colleague: “URGENT!!!! F***ing cheek of the woman!! I have left tons of messages on her answermachine and she NEVER responds to them.”

Then Patterson allegedly advised a supervisor that the case should be dropped, saying the claims were down to a “bitter” ex-wife trying to make life difficult for her husband, who seemed a “broken man”.

It was decided the case should not even be passed to the CPS for a charging decision, with a supervisor citing the mother not being willing to corroborate evidence as a key reason.

‘Beyond incompetent’ police officers sabotaged child abuse probes, court told - Evening Express

 

[Tortoise]

It makes me want to cry for those victims. It really does. It's evil, not incompetence or laziness, that's how I see it anyway. No heart, no care, in the wrong job completely. Thank goodness they were stopped, and prosecuted, and not just shipped off somewhere quietly. Thank goodness for that courageous mother in pursuing them.

 

[Tortoise]

Patterson’s “deceit”, the prosecutor said, “directly contributed to this investigation being brought to a close”.

Jurors were shown emails said to have been sent after Patterson shared an “absolutely fabricated” prosecutor’s report.

Patterson to Pollard: “As requested lover…”

Pollard: “Thanks partner in deceptive crime.”

Patterson: “I am starting to think of myself as so deceptive!!”

Pollard: “So you should you deceptive . Why don’t you want me to come and feed your cat? Don’t you trust me in your house?”

Patterson: “No… youre a deceptive .”

In another investigation, it is alleged Patterson forged an accuser’s signature and falsely claimed to prosecutors that two teachers who may have been witnesses were dead.
‘Beyond incompetent’ police officers sabotaged child abuse probes, court told

 

[Tortoise]

Central Criminal Court 1 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 10:08
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Opening - 10:22
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 12:05 - 11:49
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Opening - 12:10

Old Bailey - Central Criminal Court Listings, Daily Hearings, Cases & Details

 

[PrimeSuspect]

'Beyond incompetent' is right, it's wicked and sick behaviour. There are outstanding police in all nations but when there's the rotten apples in a department, it can ruin the wonderful work so many officers put in each day, and the poor victims? If the police can let them down in such a cunning and deceitful manner, how will they ever trust the police again?
These two police officers are heartless and creepy human beings, man, woman, doesn't matter, they should be made an example of as the low life that they are.

 

[Tortoise]

Looks like the trial has now kicked off. I'll see if there are any media reports later. I know they have pled not guilty but it would have been good to read something about the defence opening speech.


Central Criminal Court 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 10:02
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 1 Continues - 10:16
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 1 Continues - 10:36
Trial (Part Heard) - Legal Submissions - 11:31
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 2 Sworn - 14:09
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 3 Sworn - 14:32

 

[Tortoise]

No reports that I can find - only most recent court schedule showing case is not on this week

Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 10:04
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 6 Sworn - 10:11
Trial (Part Heard) - No Event - 10:51
Trial (Part Heard) - No Event - 11:09
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 12:15 - 11:59
Trial (Part Heard) - No Event - 12:23
Trial (Part Heard) - Legal Submissions - 13:02
Trial (Part Heard) - No Event - 14:14
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 1 Continues - 14:32
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 1 Continues - 14:36
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 7 Sworn - 15:01
Trial (Part Heard) - Legal Submissions - 15:24
Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 7 Continues - 15:32
Trial (Part Heard) - No Event - 15:47
Trial (Part Heard) - Case to be listed on 11-Feb-2019 - 16:10

 

[Tortoise]

Reports very thin on the ground. Sharon Patterson entered the witness box on Friday and it seems there was a reporter in court. I suspect possibly the cases she was involved with and the relevant witness evidence involves reporting restrictions.

To summarise the very sketchy report of her evidence, she was having an affair with her also married colleague (co-accused) Lee Pollard at the end of 2011 and her husband Andy became suspicious. She wrote a text to Pollard saying "Andy knows about us" but sent it to Andy by mistake. Her marriage broke down then. Pollard split with his wife in 2013 and Patterson and Pollard are still a couple.

In April 2012 she sent an email about a case:

“I’m not even asking any questions … I’m not interested. If I’m out doing that, I’m not picking any other up.”

She told jurors any suggestion the email indicated she did not care about victims was “ridiculous” and it was just a “turn of phrase” she would use.

On the morning of November 23rd she cancelled an appointment with Social Services to review case records telling them she had something more pressing to do. Ten minutes later she sent an email to Pollard about an appointment to have her nails done that morning and more emails in the afternoon discussing the lunch they had had together.

“I’m going to get my nails done in a minute – what colour would you suggest?”

The defendant said it was just a “sarcastic remark”, which was how she spoke to Pollard.


She denied the four and a half hour gap in emails was due to getting her nails done and having a “long lunch”.


Patterson denied fabricating a note saying the mother of a complainant did not want to make a statement when she was actually willing.

She said if the woman had wanted to make a statement it would have helped the case.

Police officer denies skipping work for ‘lashings’ of Chinese food with lover

 

[Tortoise]

Central Criminal Court 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 10:04
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Closing Speech - 10:35
Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 11:09
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Closing Speech - 11:13
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 12:30 - 12:19
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Closing Speech - 12:29
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:05 - 12:59
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Closing Speech - 14:07

 

[Tortoise]

Central Criminal Court 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - SHARON PATTERSON; Defence Closing Speech - 09:49
Trial (Part Heard) - SHARON PATTERSON; Defence Closing Speech - 11:09
Trial (Part Heard) - Legal Submissions - 12:42
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 13:45 - 12:42
Trial (Part Heard) - LEE POLLARD; Defence Closing Speech - 13:49
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 15:10 - 15:00
Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 15:10
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 12:00 - 16:05
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 12:00 - 16:12
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 12:00 - 16:14

 

[Tortoise]

going for the world record I think

Central Criminal Court 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: - No Information To Display -
Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 11:02
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 12:00 - 11:28
Trial (Part Heard) - LEE POLLARD; Defence Closing Speech - 12:40
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:00 - 13:17
Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 13:59
Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 14:03

 

[jessie]

going for the world record I think

Central Criminal Court 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: - No Information To Display -
Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 11:02
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 12:00 - 11:28
Trial (Part Heard) - LEE POLLARD; Defence Closing Speech - 12:40
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:00 - 13:17
Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 13:59
Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 14:03

Lack of detailed reports is so frustrating. Is there a D Notice on this or something?

 

[Tortoise]

Lack of detailed reports is so frustrating. Is there a D Notice on this or something?

I'm hoping for more information when the verdict comes out, but I expect it will be just a re-hash of the info we got when it started if no reporters have actually been there.

 

[Tortoise]

Central Criminal Court 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 10:00
Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 10:03
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 11:45 - 11:30
Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 11:46
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:05 - 13:00
Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 14:06
Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 15:29
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 10:00 - 16:18
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 10:00 - 16:23

 

[Medstudies]

Wow they bring new meaning to despicable and incompetent. Thank goodness for the persistence of the mother!

Slightly off topic: We should create a WS Pictionary. My submission, for the word malfeasance: I would suggest photos of these two, SP and LP

 

[Medstudies]

(SNIP for brevity)
“To summarise...she was having an affair with her also married colleague (co-accused) Lee Pollard at the end of 2011 and her husband Andy became suspicious. She wrote a text to Pollard saying "Andy knows about us" but sent it to Andy by mistake. Her marriage broke down then. Pollard split with his wife in 2013 and Patterson and Pollard are still a couple.

If this weren’t real life, and the case wasn’t so disturbing and tragic, it could be a great movie

 

[Al Ka]

I'm hoping for more information when the verdict comes out, but I expect it will be just a re-hash of the info we got when it started if no reporters have actually been there.

Is it normal for reporters not to show up to such a disturbing case or are they not allowed?

I am really curious how long they get, if judge will make example of their case or if they walk with just slap on the wrist...

Edit: Just to add - Incompetence is very hard to factually prove in general, at any workplace, and usually if investigated people are just fired. Someone really had to take lots of energy to pursue all this over the couple of years probably and jump many hurdlers that it went as far as to trial.

This is of course not the usual workplace and investigations are probably very different then just HRs involvement.

I salute all behind the scenes who did not give up on this and that those two gets adequate punishment for all the consequences and suffering their negligence caused to victims.

 

[Tortoise]

Central Criminal Court 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 10:37
Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 11:33
Trial (Part Heard) - Legal Submissions - 12:17

 

[Tortoise]

Central Criminal Court 16 T20187125
Lee Pollard
Sharon Patterson
Details:
Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 12:30
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:05 - 13:06
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:05 - 13:12
Trial (Part Heard) - Summing Up - 14:06
Trial (Part Heard) - Jury retire to consider verdict - 14:40
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:41 - 15:35
Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 16:20
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 10:00 - 16:26