FORMER NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE OFFICER ADMITS POSSESSING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN AND VOYEURISM
A former North Yorkshire Police officer has admitted three counts of having indecent images of children and five counts of voyeurism.Paul Beckwith appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon (October 29) where he entered guilty pleas to all the charges.
The 53-year-old, of York, served as a police officer for 33 years and was suspended from duty after being arrested last November.
North Yorkshire Police has said Beckwith was charged on Wednesday, September 24, and was released on conditional bail until Wednesday’s hearing.
The offences were not committed while Beckwith was on duty as a police officer, the court heard.
Beckwith wore a dark suit and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during the court hearing.
The court heard that 11 of the indecent images of children in Beckwith’s possession were of the most serious category.
Two were category B images and nine were category C, the hearing was told.
Prosecutor Sarah Tyrer said the voyeurism charges demonstrated a “substantial breach of trust” from Beckwith, who had no previous convictions.
Beckwith was North Yorkshire Police’s first drone operator.
He previously worked as a police family liaison officer for North Yorkshire Police and as a neighbourhood police officer in Holgate.
He sat beside Peter Lawrence as he appealed for information about his daughter Claudia five days after she vanished in March 2009.
North Yorkshire Police said Beckwith was “immediately suspended from duties” after he was arrested.
Beckwith will be sentenced at York Crown Court on Wednesday, November 19.
He was released from court on conditional bail.
Update - 21/11/2025 Former North Yorkshire Police officer sentenced at York Crown Court for indecent images of children and voyeurism offences Paul Beckwith, 53, from York, has today (Wednesday 19 November 2025) been sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for three counts of possessing indecent images of children and five counts of voyeurism.
He appeared at York Crown Court after pleading guilty to all eight charges at York Magistrates’ Court on 29 October.
He has also been made subject to a Community Order and must undertake rehabilitation activities and mental health treatment.
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