May 2021

Paedo cop who tried to send naked pics and sex messages to girl, 13, jailed after sting

A paedophile police officer who tried to send photos of his private parts to a 13-year-old girl has been jailed after being caught in a sting.

Mark Collins, of Fleet, Hampshire and a former constable at Bromley police station sent “highly sexualised” messages to the girl in November, 2019.

Thinking he was talking to the teenager he commented on her “body developing”, as well as “naughty urges” and “being horny”.

The Old Bailey was told that Collins, 58, sent pictures of his genitalia over the Kik Messenger app while he was on holiday in Malta

All the time he thought he was communicating with the girl but in reality he was talking to an undercover police officer.

He was arrested at work at Bromley police station on November 26.

The court heard some of the messages were sent when Collins appeared to be at work according to his rota but prosecutor David Povall said that this could not be proved in law

Collins admitted one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and six counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

Jailing him for two years and four months, Judge Mark Lucraft QC said the messages where of a “highly sexualised nature”.

He told Collins: “It is clear many of the messages you sent are explicit, setting out what you were imagining, your sexual feelings towards her naked body.

“It is clear from the content and tone that the messages were sent for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification.

Collins, who resigned from the Met after his arrest, was found to have committed gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing last week and the force said he would have been sacked if he were still a serving officer.

He was also imposed with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirement for 10 years.

January 2021

Scotland Yard detective, 57, faces jail

A Metropolitan Police detective who admitted attempting to groom a young girl into engaging in sexual activity is facing prison. 

Detective Constable Mark Collins, 57, who is a member of the Southern Area Command Unit admitted seven charges relating to a underage schoolgirl

At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13–15 to engage in sexual activity (with penetration).

He also pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

Collins, who has been suspended from duty, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause or incite the girl to ‘engage in sexual activity’ on or before November 24, 2019. 

The pervert sent explicit photographs of himself to the schoolgirl, told her she was ‘very attractive’ and asked if she had any sexual urges

He urged the girl to delete the sexual photographs and any messages between them.

He also incited the girl to engage in sexual activity by performing a sex act on herself, so he could watch.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard Collins was on duty when some of the offences were alleged to have occurred.

Collins is believed to have been in contact with the girl between November 9 and November 26, 2019. 

According to Scotland Yard: ‘The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is aware and misconduct proceedings are ongoing. 

‘He is currently suspended.’

He has been sent forward to the Old Bailey for sentencing at a later date which is yet to be confirmed.