Ex police officer grooming children online and having sexual intercourse in front of a child.

Former Detective Jailed for Child Sex Offenses

A former detective constable has been jailed for a series of child sex offenses, including sexual activity with a woman in the presence of her child.

Paul Clayton, 45, of Anlaby in East Riding, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including encouraging or assisting an offense, downloading and possessing child abuse images, sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity with a child, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Clayton's offenses were uncovered during a separate child exploitation investigation in Bristol. Police traced him and established his involvement through online conversations with an offender.

A 43-year-old woman, who Bristol Live is not naming, was also found guilty of distributing photos of her child to Clayton, facilitating his sexual activity with her child, and engaging in sexual activity with him in the presence of her child.

Judge Martin Picton sentenced Clayton to five years in prison and the woman to 29 months. He described the offenses as "really serious" and highlighted the lifelong harm inflicted on the victims.

Both defendants received Sexual Harm Prevention Orders to prevent reoffending, were placed on the Sex Offenders Register, and banned from working with children or vulnerable adults.

The court heard that Clayton had attempted to persuade a woman to send an indecent photo of her ten-year-old daughter and had downloaded indecent images of children. He also admitted to inappropriate online conversations with a 14-year-old girl, sexual activity with a younger girl, and sexual activity with a woman in the presence of her child.

Clayton's co-defendant was found to have sent inappropriate photos of her child to Clayton and engaged in sexual activity with him in the presence of her child.