A retired Metropolitan police officer from Scotland has appeared in court accused of plotting to share more than 2500 indecent images of children with ex-colleagues. Jack Addis, from Perthshire, is alleged to have exchanged material with fellow cops Jeremy Laxton and the late Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson on a computer hard drive between January 2018 and July 2021.
The 63-year-old, who is currently in custody with the Scottish Prison Service, appeared via videolink wearing a red jumper and spoke only to confirm his identity during the brief hearing where he made no plea. Prosecutor Edward Franklin told Westminster Magistrates Court’ that some of the images allegedly discovered in the investigation were at the "highest end" of Category A.
Addis and Laxton both left the Met police over a decade ago. The retired cops were arrested after Watkinson, 49, who was a serving chief inspector for neighbourhoods policing at the Met's West Area Command Unit, was found dead in Buckinghamshire on January 12 - the same day he was due to answer bail.
He was due to be charged with conspiracy to distribute indecent photographs of children, three counts of making indecent photos of a child, voyeurism and two counts of misconduct in public office.
Officers found his body after attending an address in Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, following welfare concerns. His death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.
He had been suspended from duty following his arrest in July 2021.
During the hearing on Thursday, Laxton, 62, also faced three counts of making indecent photos of a child, possession of prohibited images of a child, possession of extreme pornographic images and intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence (misconduct in public office).
The court was told that while Laxton is not alleged to have taken any images of children, Addis is said to have taken photos of youths who came to his property, which were not indecent.
District Judge Annabel Pilling said both men will next appear at Southwark Crown Court on March 9 for a plea and case management hearing.
She granted Laxton bail on conditions of residence at his home address, to surrender his passport and not to apply for documents to travel outside of England and Wales, that he has no contact with children apart from named family members, and to inform police of any digital devices.
Commander Jon Savell previously said: "Chief Inspector Watkinson was facing extremely serious and concerning charges, as the result of a painstaking and thorough police investigation.
"Before this matter came to light, we had no previous information about these allegations or to indicate the officer posed any risk to the public. He had not faced any other criminal or conduct matters during his Met career.
"He had been suspended from duty since his arrest. Two other men were also arrested during the course of the investigation and have been charged. Their matters will now progress through the courts."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
