Anger of police chief as officer avoids jail over abuse images

A CHIEF constable has called for one of his own officers to be jailed – after slamming the ‘lenient’ suspended sentence handed down to the paedophile former inspector.

Lee Bartram admitted ten counts of making and distributing indecent images of children and one count of misconduct in public office.

The charges covered more than 450 images, including filming a young boy while on duty. Bartram, from West Bromwich, admitted he ‘may have tried to touch a child’ if his offending had not been detected.

The 44-year-old was given a 16-month suspended sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court, as well as a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

But Dave Thompson, chief constable of West Midlands Police, said: ‘The public expect the protection of the police and do not expect officers to break the law. This case is very serious and the sentence, in my view, is too lenient.’ He said the force was discussing an appeal with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Sentencing Bartram for offences between 2011 and 2018, Judge James Burbidge QC said his crimes were the result of a ‘spectacular fall from grace’. But he decided to suspend the sentence after describing him as a man of ‘exemplary character’.