Police officer jailed over child sex offences

Paul Hanson befriended the teenage girls in Nuneaton before he became a police officer

A police officer has been jailed after being found guilty of a string of sex offences against teenage girls.

Paul Hanson, from Nuneaton, committed the offences in the late 2000s and early 2010s, before he became a police officer.

The 33-year-old was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity following a trial at Warwick crown court in December 2024.

He was jailed for six-and-a-half years at the same court on Thursday, and will now face misconduct proceedings by Warwickshire Police.

The court had heard that Hanson had committed the crimes after befriending the girls in Nuneaton.

He went on to work as a response officer based at Bedworth.

Det Supt Paul Thompson from the force said: "Hanson's crimes are reprehensible, and I welcome the prison sentence handed down to him.

"The actions of the likes of Hanson understandably reflect badly on the wider policing profession.

"However, I would like to emphasise that the overwhelming majority of police officers in Warwickshire go to work each day to make a difference and protect the community."