LURGAN EX-PSNI OFFICER ROBERT AINSCOUGH JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND MISCONDUCT

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Lurgan, Robert Ainscough, a former police officer, has been sentenced to a term of 13 and a half months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple serious charges, including misconduct in public office and possession of a staggering collection of over 16,000 indecent images of children.

The sentencing took place at Craigavon Crown Court, where the court heard how the investigation into Ainscough was initiated following a report from a woman in 2016. She disclosed that Ainscough had sent her explicit images of himself while he was on duty, prompting police to seize several of his electronic devices for forensic analysis.

During the court proceedings, the judge described Ainscough as a “disgraced man,” emphasizing the gravity of his misconduct. It was revealed that Ainscough had engaged in consensual exchanges of explicit messages with three women while on duty, some of which were sent from police stations in Lurgan and Banbridge, as well as from a police vehicle. Despite these exchanges, none of the women involved had formally lodged complaints against him.

The court also uncovered that Ainscough had misused his position by accessing the personal details of one woman without any legitimate reason. Additionally, he shared a confidential incident log with another woman and disclosed sensitive information about an individual to a third woman, breaching the trust and confidentiality expected of a police officer.

Analysis of ten electronic devices owned by Ainscough, who is originally from Dublin but listed as residing at Lurgan police station, revealed the disturbing presence of 16,681 indecent images of children. The majority of these images were classified as Category C, indicating lower-level indecency, with eight images falling into Category B, which denotes a higher level of severity.

Following his arrest and the subsequent investigation, Ainscough was dismissed from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). His sentence will see him serve half of his prison time behind bars, with the remaining period on license. Furthermore, he will be subject to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will be disqualified from working with children in any capacity.

The judge highlighted the profound personal and professional loss suffered by Ainscough, stating that he had “lost his career, his good character, and the respect he would have had in the community.” The case underscores the serious breach of trust and the devastating impact of such misconduct, especially given Ainscough’s former role as a police officer in Lurgan, a town that now faces the repercussions of his actions.