Met Police chief and two retired cops accused of being in paedophile ring

19 January 2023 , 22:53

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Three Met Police officers have been accused of being in a paedophile ring (Image: Getty Images)

A Met Police chief and two retired officers have been accused of being in a paedophile ring.

Serving Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson, 49, was found dead on the day he was to be charged over child sex images.

Jack Addis, 63, and Jeremy Laxton, 62, will appear in court accused of sharing ­indecent images of children.

The two retired police officers are due in court next month charged with offences relating to ­indecent images of children.

Addis and Laxton have been accused of belonging to a paedophile ring with the Met boss, who has died.

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Watkinson, a serving Chief Inspector, was due to be charged on the day he was found dead at his home in Princes Risborough, Bucks, last week.

Richard Watkinson was found dead

His death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

Watkinson oversaw schools in the West Area Command Unit.

The officers are said to have plotted together for nearly four years to share child abuse images.

Commander Jon Savell said: “Watkinson was facing extremely serious charges. He had not faced any other criminal or conduct matters during his Met career.

“Two other men were also arrested and have been charged.”

Two retired police officers are due in court next month (Getty Images)

Former firearms officer Addis, of Perthshire, ­Scotland – who had been married 43 years – retired with the rank of sergeant in 2008.

He was arrested in November 2021 and charged with conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children.

Laxton, 62, from Lincolnshire, was held in September 2021.

He retired at the same time as Addis and has been charged with offences including conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children, making ­indecent photos of a child and extreme pornographic images.

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The alleged offences took place between January 1, 2018, and September 20, 2021.

Addis and Laxton will appear before Westminster magistrates.

Tom Pettifor