Former Kent Police Officer Sentenced for Child Abuse Images

A former police officer from Kent has been sentenced after admitting to viewing child abuse material online.

Thomas Blant, 38, was arrested in January 2020 following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Investigators identified that a website hosting child sexual abuse material had been accessed via TOR (The Onion Router) from his home in Wye, Ashford.

A search of Blant's address resulted in the seizure of several digital devices, including his phone and laptop, which were forensically analyzed. TOR, a tool that offers anonymous online browsing and access to the dark web, was found downloaded on his laptop, along with a computer cleaning app, which can be used to remove traces of illegal activity.

Despite Blant's attempts to delete them, 17 indecent images of children (IIOC), classified as categories A and C, were recovered from his laptop. An additional four IIOC were found on one of his old mobile phones.

Blant was released on bail but was further arrested in February 2020 following the analysis of his devices. At the time of his offenses, he was working as a constable for Kent Police. He was suspended from duty upon his initial arrest and has since been dismissed from the force.

On July 22, 2021, Blant pleaded guilty to two counts of making IIOC at Folkestone Magistrates Court. Today [06/10/2021] at Maidstone Crown Court, he was sentenced to a 12-month jail term suspended for two years, a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Martin Ludlow, from the NCA, said: "Blant's offending is an outrageous misuse of trust. His role as a police officer was to protect the public. Instead, he sought out images of child abuse for his own sexual gratification. Offenders who view such material online only encourage those willing to sexually abuse children in the real world. Combatting this threat remains one of the highest priorities for the NCA. We are committed to targeting the most dangerous offenders and those who, like Blant, go to great lengths to hide their activity, believing they can operate with impunity online. As this investigation shows, there is nowhere to hide. We will use all of the tools at our disposal to identify those who pose a sexual threat to children and ensure they are brought to justice."

Detective Chief Superintendent Jon Armory, Kent Police's Head of Professional Standards, said: "It is abhorrent that Blant has committed these offenses, particularly while working as a police officer. His actions helped fuel the demand for children to be exploited which is a complete betrayal of his duty to protect the vulnerable. Blant was suspended from our force as soon as the allegations were first received and we fully supported our colleagues in the National Crime Agency with their criminal investigation. As soon as he admitted the offences in court, we progressed with special case proceedings which led to his dismissal on 17 August. The vast majority of our officers and staff do an outstanding job serving the public in line with the highest standards of professionalism and conduct, and we expect no less from them. Those who fall short will face scrutiny."