Police worker thought sex chat was with girl, 14

Gary Marsden changed his plea during his trial at Liverpool Crown Court

A civilian member of staff at a police force used his work computer to have online sexual conversations with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl.

Father-of-two Gary Marsden, who was also manager of a children’s football team, was actually communicating with an undercover police officer.

The 50-year-old had denied attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, along with two other similar charges, but on the third day of his trial he changed his plea to guilty and the other two charges were dropped.

Marsden was jailed for nine months, suspended for two years, at Liverpool Crown Court.

The court heard Marsden was living at his family home in Wigan with his wife and young children at the time of his offence in February 2023.

The Cheshire Constabulary civilian supervisor was working in the North West Motorway Unit in Newton-le-Willows.

Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, said Marsden had logged into his Twitter account at work when he was talking with the undercover officer, and took a photo of himself in his boxer shorts.

Mr Walsh said Marsden had described the "girl" as "sexy" and made requests of her using sexualised language.

He told her: "I don’t mind some risk."

Officers from Cheshire Constabulary arrested Marsden at home after the online chat, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

The IOPC said Marsden also admitted communicating with two other "14-year-olds".

Steven Nikolich, defending, said Marsden had no previous convictions and was "someone probation can work with", creating a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

His ex-wife wrote a letter to the court on his behalf.

Judge Anil Murray ordered Marsden to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and to be on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.