Pervert Leeds Police Community Support Officer who was a school teacher for 25 years is jailed for online child sex offences

David Mallard - who was based at the Leeds North West Neighbourhood Policing Team - believed he was having sexual conversations with a 13-year-old girl called Bella, Bradford Crown Court was told.

But 57-year-old Mallard had been speaking to undercover police officers who had created a fake profile of a young girl during an investigation into online child sexual exploitation.

The court heard Mallard told Bella he loved her and wanted to pick her up in his convertible car and described the sexual abuse he wanted to take place.

Jailing him for ten months, Judge Richard Mansell QC said Mallard had been working as a police community support officer with West Yorkshire Police for around two years when he committed the offences last July.

Judge Mansell said Mallard had worked as a full time teacher and a supply teacher at secondary schools across West Yorkshire from 1992 to 2017 and said parents would be "horrified" to learn of his crimes.

Camille Morland, prosecuting, said Mallard used the Lycos online chat forum to contact Bella's online profile at 2am on July 9 2019.

Bella told Mallard she was 13 and he told her that he was a 17-year-old boy and gave a fake name.

Mallard asked for her Skype details and he sent her a number of voice messages.

Between July 12 and 20 2019, Mallard sent non sexual messages to the girl and on July 23 he asked Bella for her mobile phone number and spoke to her

During two further phone calls Mallard told the girl he was aged 36 and offered to pick her up in his convertible car and asked her to wear a short skirt.

Ms Morland said Mallard told the girl what sexual acts he wanted to take place.

Police arrested and interviewed Mallard on August 10 last year.

Mallard, who has no previous convictions, admitted attempting to cause a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Holly Clegg, mitigating, said Mallard, of The Crescent, Bingley, described his marriage as "difficult and controlling" and he had turned to internet chat rooms in an attempt to "overcome his sadness and loneliness."

Ms Clegg said Mallard had used chat rooms for a number of years to speak to adult women and said the offences were out of character.

She said Mallard suffers from anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Ms Clegg said: "He has expressed to me a significant degree of remorse. He is ashamed and embarrassed about the actions he has taken and his behaviour.

"He has lost his job as a Police Community Support Officer and his marriage has broken down even further."

Jailing Mallard for ten months, Judge Mansell said when Bella said she was aged 13 Mallard replied "only 13, that's OK if you are."

Judge Mansell said: "You engaged in classic and I conclude practised grooming behaviour."

Mallard's name will be on the sex offender regsiter for ten years and he was made the subject of a ten year sexual harm prevention order, which bans him from working with children.

After the hearing, West Yorkshire Police said Mallard was suspended on his arrest last July

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Bottomley, Head of West Yorkshire Police's Professional Standards Directorate, said: “As a Police Community Support Officer, Mallard held a position of trust and he agreed to abide by the Code of Ethics and the standards expected of him.

“His behaviour was totally reprehensible and contradicts the values and standards that both the force and, quite rightly, the public would expect of any West Yorkshire Police employee.

“I hope that his conviction and sentence demonstrates that no one is above the law and we will take action against anyone who commits a criminal offence.

“Mallard remains suspended from the force and will now face a misconduct hearing in due course.”

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Thank you

Laura Collins