Matthew Townend, a former special constable and cadet leader of West Mercia Police, purchased photographs of young boys from a recognised sex offender.
Shrewsbury Crown Court was informed that 58-year-old Matthew Townend, previously of Shrewsbury, exhibited a ‘obsession’ with indecent photos of young boys.
Matthew Townend was sentenced on Friday, March 28, after previously pleading guilty to three counts of producing indecent images of a minor, classified in categories A, B, and C.
The offences occurred between May 2006 and January 2024.
Dylan Wagg, prosecuting, said that West Mercia Police’s online Child Sexual Exploitation Team had received information about the defendant’s activities in January 2024.
His IP address was traced and police visited his home.
Mr Wagg said that at the time Matthew Townend was a loved and respected special constable with West Mercia Police, as well as a cadet leader.
Police arrested Townend and seized his devices, including a Samsung flip telephone and a USB stick.
They were found to contain a number of indecent images and videos of boys aged between nine and 15 years old, in categories A, B, and C.
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