JAMES LAND ABERGELE POLICE SUPPORT OFFICER CAUGHT FILMING CHILDREN AT QUEEN'S PARK LEISURE CENTRE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, James Land, a former police support officer from Abergele, has been convicted of heinous crimes involving the exploitation and abuse of children. The allegations reveal that Land, who previously served in the cyber crime unit at Derbyshire police headquarters in Ripley, secretly recorded minors in a state of undress within the changing rooms of Queen's Park Leisure Centre in Chesterfield.

Details emerged during a court hearing that Land had been collecting and possessing vile child sexual abuse images and videos for nearly two decades. The police investigation uncovered that Land had hidden girls' underwear, including knickers belonging to girls as young as 13, under his bed at his residence in Cromford, located in the Derbyshire Peak District. These items were seized during a raid on his home, along with multiple electronic devices, including his police-issued laptop.

The police review of Land's digital devices revealed a series of disturbing images and videos. Among these was a four-minute, seventeen-second video filmed covertly in the changing area of Queen's Park Leisure Centre in Chesterfield, dating back to 2015. The footage depicted children, both boys and girls as young as two or three, in various states of undress, some visibly distressed. The police were able to identify five children from the video, with two remaining anonymous. The investigation also uncovered two screenshots taken from the video, further evidencing the defendant's malicious activity.

Authorities contacted the parents and guardians of the children suspected to be featured in the footage, all of whom confirmed their children’s involvement. The investigation extended to include sexually explicit images and videos of an adult woman, all recorded without her consent. The images showed children in compromising situations, with some appearing visibly upset or distressed. Additionally, there was an image of Land exposing himself while on police premises, which added to the severity of his misconduct.

Prosecutors presented victim impact statements from the parents of the children involved, expressing their profound betrayal and loss of trust in law enforcement. One parent stated, “To know he was a police officer in our community has thoroughly damaged our faith and trust of those who are expected to look after us and our children.”

Land, now residing in Abergele, Conwy, North Wales, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including voyeurism and possession of a significant number of indecent images. Specifically, he admitted to possessing 365 images classified as Category A, the most serious, which typically depict adults raping children. He also confessed to possessing 262 Category B images and 686 Category C images, along with 179 prohibited images of children. Furthermore, he admitted to possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals engaged in sexual acts.

Judge Nirmal Shant QC sentenced Land to 27 months in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes. The judge highlighted that Land had engaged in this activity for nearly 19 years, specifically targeting very young children through his covert filming in the swimming pool changing rooms. The judge also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and mandated that Land be registered as a sex offender for the same duration.

At the time of his arrest in May of the previous year, Land was suspended from his duties and had already resigned from his position at Derbyshire police headquarters. The investigation was initiated after officers traced an internet address linked to Land that had been accessing indecent images of children. A raid on his residence uncovered numerous electronic devices, including his police laptop, which contained the illicit material.

The police review confirmed the existence of the video from Queen's Park Leisure Centre, which was made without the knowledge of the children involved. The authorities also identified some of the children in the footage, with the parents confirming their identities. The images and videos of children as young as two or three, some distressed, were found alongside explicit images of an adult woman, all recorded without consent. Land’s actions have profoundly impacted the victims and their families, leading to a breakdown in his own personal life, including the end of his marriage and loss of contact with his son.

Land, who has now moved to Abergele, Conwy, in North Wales, faces a lengthy prison sentence and a lifetime of registration as a sex offender. His case underscores the importance of vigilance and the devastating consequences of abusing positions of trust and authority, especially within law enforcement agencies.