Two retired Met cops have been charged in connection with an alleged child porn ring linked to a serving chief inspector who was found dead before he could be charged.
The body of Met chief inspector Richard Watkinson was discovered at his home on Monday after he failed to appear in court to face charges in connection with the alleged conspiracy, according to The Sun.
When he failed to appear in court to answer bail last Thursday, Met officers were dispatched to his Buckinghamshire home to conduct a welfare check.
Watkinson, who lives in West London, was charged yesterday with conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent photos of a child, voyeurism, and two counts of misconduct in public office.
Charges against him had been authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service.
His death is being investigated as mysterious but not suspicious, and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.
According to sources, he may have committed suicide, and toxicology tests are being performed.
He had been suspended from duty following his arrest in July 2021.
His alleged conspirators, ex-Met cops Jack Addis, 63, of no fixed address but from Perthshire, Scotland, and Jeremy Laxton, 62, of Lincolnshire, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 9.
Addis has been charged with conspiracy to distribute or display indecent images of children.
He was apprehended in November 2021.
Laxton has been charged with conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent photos of a child, possession of prohibited images of a child, possession of extreme pornographic images, and intentionally encouraging or assisting an offender.
He was arrested in September 2021.
They both left the force over a decade ago.
source:nsemwokrom.com
