SWINTON'S CHRISTOPHER DUNN: EX-GMP OFFICER'S SHOCKING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND POLICE ABUSE SCANDAL IN MANCHESTER

In a disturbing case that has shaken public confidence in law enforcement, Christopher Dunn, a 33-year-old former police officer from Swinton, was sentenced to four years and four months in prison after being found guilty of heinous crimes involving the exploitation and distribution of indecent images of children and police colleagues. The court heard how Dunn, who once served as a cadet leader within Greater Manchester Police (GMP), led a double life marked by the systematic collection and sharing of highly inappropriate and illegal material.

During his time working as a police officer, Dunn engaged in a pattern of criminal behavior that involved the accumulation of thousands of images depicting young female cadets, some as young as 12 years old, as well as adult female officers. These images were stored meticulously in organized folders on his computer, revealing a premeditated effort to gather and manipulate such material for his own sexual gratification. The court was told that Dunn’s collection of images extended back to his employment at the Trafford Centre before he joined GMP in January 2014, where he continued his illicit activities.

Specifically, Dunn amassed a total of 46 images of women aged between 12 and 44. His offending was uncovered after an alert was triggered when he uploaded indecent images of children to online platforms. Subsequent investigations into his devices uncovered a staggering collection of over 100,000 indecent images of children, a number that shocked the court. Authorities also found that Dunn had been collecting images of adult women, both from social media and through direct photography, often manipulating these images before uploading them to sick pornographic websites.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Dunn’s criminal activities spanned several years, with his collection of illicit images beginning to escalate after he became a special constable in 2009. Despite performing well and receiving nominations for awards, his darker side persisted. His obsession with collecting images of women grew, including those he knew from his previous job at the Trafford Centre, where he gathered nearly 1,000 images of an adult woman. His attempts to join GMP as a full-time officer in 2012 failed, but he continued to indulge in his illicit interests, collecting images of colleagues and acquaintances.

His criminal conduct took a more sinister turn in November 2015 when he began collecting images of police cadets, many of whom were from troubled or vulnerable backgrounds. Dunn’s position as a cadet leader gave him access to these young individuals, whom he exploited for his own sexual pleasure. Despite receiving a GMP award for his dedication, he continued to abuse his role, secretly collecting hundreds of images of his victims. His actions remained hidden until October of the previous year, when he uploaded an indecent image of a child, prompting an immediate online alert to authorities.

Following this, police executed a warrant at Dunn’s residence in Swinton in February. During the search, he appeared nervous and was subsequently arrested. Dunn was formally dismissed from GMP in May. In interviews with officers, he admitted to being addicted to legal pornography since the age of 16 and developing an interest in illegal material by 2013. He also confessed to recording videos of girls at his local supermarket and described a split personality, with a public persona contrasting sharply with his private online activities.

Throughout the investigation, Dunn expressed remorse, stating, “I regret what’s happened and I am going to use this situation to turn things around.” However, the court was told that his collection included more than 3,600 images of police cadets and over 7,500 images of colleagues, alongside more than 20,000 indecent images of children. Prosecutors highlighted that an additional 100,000 indecent images had not been classified, as pursuing them was deemed not in the public interest.

Judge Mr. Justice Bryan condemned Dunn’s actions, emphasizing that his crimes had severely damaged the integrity of the police service and the trust placed in law enforcement officers. He stated, “You were in a position of trust and responsibility in relation to young, and often vulnerable police cadets. You betrayed that trust in harvesting pictures of them for your own personal gratification, and posting them on paedophile websites for the sexual gratification of others who shared your unhealthy interest in young females.” The judge also highlighted the long-lasting impact on victims, describing their feelings of humiliation and violation as “painful reading.”

As part of his sentence, Dunn will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and is permanently barred from working with vulnerable children or adults. His case has left a scar on the community and raised serious questions about safeguarding and the oversight of law enforcement personnel.