GMP special constable convicted of child sex offences


A GMP special constable who groomed and had sex with a 14 year-old girl has been jailed for five years.
Christian Richardson, 22, from Salford , who changed his name by deed poll to America Luke Richardson, pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to six sex offences involving the girl.
Richardson is also suspected of setting up a fake model agency to lure other victims and the force has launched an investigation into an online agency he ran.
It is feared there may be other victims and GMP have issued an appeal for them to come forward.
Richardson, of Tucana Avenue, Lower Broughton, admitted one count of meeting a child following sexual grooming, six of sexual activity with a child and one of making indecent photographs of a child.
All the charges refer to the same victim.
The offences were committed in Essex between August 2013 and August 2014 after Richardson travelled to meet the victim.
In addition but as part of the investigation into Richardson, he pleaded guilty to theft of police uniforms and equipment on January 14 this year at Liverpool Crown Court.
Richardson was suspended in January 2015 by GMP.
He was initially investigated by the force’s Professional Standards Branch as concerns were raised in relation to him attending Walkden High School and purporting to be the local school-based officer.
This was not the case and he should not have been performing operational duties while a probationer.
In October last year, police arrested Richardson at his home after receiving information that he had been engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16.
They confiscated phone and computer equipment which revealed 4,000 messages had been sent to the girl in Essex and the victim revealed that the pair had met up in a hotel booked by Richardson.
They also seized a stash of GMP uniforms, handcuffs and a baton. A Metropolitan Police uniform, and military uniform were also recovered. In addition a United Airline air steward uniform and two imitation police issue Glock guns were also recovered.
He had only been in the force a few months as a probationary special constable when an investigation into him was started.
After being suspended, Richardson confirmed he had returned uniform and equipment issued to him.
When two addresses in Salford were searched – his mother’s and father’s addresses where he had lived – he was subsequently found to be in possession of a quantity of police equipment, including various items of uniform and body armour, handcuffs and a baton.