Former police officer jailed for indecent messages to 'child'

A former police officer who sent sexual messages to an undercover colleague posing as 12-year-old girl has been jailed for a year.

Adam McManus, 40, was working at Cumbernauld police station when the crimes happened.

He was caught last year after a covert police operation aimed at tackling online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

McManus had previously admitted three offences at Falkirk Sheriff Court, where he was told on Monday that custody was the only option.

The court heard that McManus had worked as a school campus police officer covering two high schools in the Airdrie area "for a number of years".

He first contacted the undercover officer on an instant messaging app in January last year, the court was told.

The decoy told McManus that during the initial communication the child was a first-year pupil at a school in Airdrie.

Over the course of almost a month he repeatedly asked for images of the child, made sexual remarks and quizzed her about her sexual experiences.

Police traced the messages back to married father-of-one McManus.

Officers searched his then home in Larbert and seized his mobile phone.

A forensic examination found the messages he had sent, as well as illegal images and videos that showed the abuse of children.

McManus admitted sexual communication with an undercover officer pretending to be a child, downloading child abuse images, and indecent electronic communication with a paedophile.

Pamela Rodgers, defending, said McManus had "taken steps to address" the cause of his offending.

She said he had been "significantly impacted" by what had happened.

"He has lost his wife, his home, his career, his income, his temporary accommodation, and all contact with his son," she said.

Sheriff Christopher Shead said: "Having considered the charges and in particular the nature and number of the offences I have reached the conclusion that a custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal."

The court heard that McManus had resigned from the police since tendering his plea.

He has also been added to the sex offenders register for 10 years.