Coventry police sergeant admits child grooming offences
- Published
Sgt Stephen Shaw is based in Coventry, West Midlands Police said
A police officer has admitted two charges of child grooming offences.
Sgt Stephen Shaw, 46, sent an indecent photo to an undercover colleague posing online as a 12-year-old girl.
He pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court to attempting to cause or incite a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
He was bailed and will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 20 September.
West Midlands Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the matter.
Shaw, who is from Luton and was based in Coventry, was arrested at his home on Thursday evening.
Prosecutor David Devine said Shaw told the girl he sent the photo to that she could "pass for 15" and then made numerous comments about sexual acts in online chats.
In her application for bail, defence solicitor Sue Swan said his offending had spanned three days earlier this week.
She told the court her client had never met with a child he had chatted with online and had "half expected" the profile he had contacted to be an adult posing as a youngster.
Ms Swan said she had spoken to Shaw's wife who "100% supports him".
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