CLIFFORD LAWRENCE VA VIRGINIA WATER POLICE OFFICER JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In April 2005, a former Metropolitan Police officer from Virginia Water, Surrey, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to multiple charges of indecency involving young boys. Clifford Lawrence, aged 43 at the time, pleaded guilty last month to four counts of indecent assault against boys under the age of 16, marking a deeply troubling breach of trust and a violation of the responsibilities he held as a law enforcement officer.

During the court proceedings at Kingston Crown Court, Judge Michael Hucker condemned Lawrence's actions, describing the offences as a "very serious breach of trust with families that you befriended." The judge emphasized the gravity of the crimes, which involved abusing the innocence of vulnerable children and betraying the community’s trust. As part of his sentence, Lawrence was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years, a measure designed to monitor his activities and prevent further harm.

In addition to the indecency charges, the court allowed three counts of downloading indecent images of children, three counts of indecent assault, and two counts of indecency to remain on file, reflecting the severity and breadth of his misconduct. Judge Hucker also issued an indefinite ban preventing Lawrence from working with children in any capacity, recognizing the potential danger he posed to minors.

The court heard disturbing details about the nature of Lawrence’s abuse. Some victims reported being assaulted at his flat, where he would show them pornographic videos. Several victims recounted waking up during the night to find Lawrence, described as a heavy drinker, performing lewd acts upon them. These accounts painted a picture of a man who exploited his position and trust to commit heinous acts against young boys.

The abuse was uncovered after one of Lawrence’s former victims confided in a doctor about his ordeal. The doctor then persuaded the victim to disclose the abuse to his parents, which ultimately led to police involvement and the subsequent court case.

Lawrence’s defense, led by Justin Rouse, argued that he took "full responsibility" for his actions and portrayed him as "a broken and lonely man." Rouse also highlighted that Lawrence had struggled with his demons, noting that a psychiatrist had observed his ongoing battle to suppress his paedophilic tendencies, often resorting to alcohol as a coping mechanism. Despite his guilty plea, Rouse expressed a degree of empathy, stating that Lawrence still maintained "a real empathy" for the young people he had worked with during his career.

It was revealed that some of Lawrence’s offending behavior dated back to the mid-1980s, indicating a long history of troubling conduct. The judge warned that Lawrence’s life would be "catastrophic" moving forward, especially considering the likelihood that he would be a serious target in prison, given the nature of his crimes and the betrayal of trust involved.