A senior Metropolitan Police officer facing child porn offences has reportedly been found dead at home. Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson had been arrested in July 2021 after a raid on his address in Buckinghamshire uncovered a stash of indecent images, pairs of boys' underwear and sex toys hidden away behind a trap door at the property .
The shock discovery followed a joint investigation into Watkinson by the Met and force watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The images uncovered on his computer equipment were said to be Category A and B, meaning they depicted abuse of the worst levels.
The 49-year-old's initial arrest was on 'suspicion of misconduct, sending obscene messages, corrupt exercise of police powers and data protection breaches'. He was subsequently re-arrested 11 days later on suspicion of further offences which included conspiracy to 'distribute indecent images of children, voyeurism and misconduct in public office'.
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His body was discovered last week after he failed to turn up at the police station where he was due to be charged, raising concerns for his welfare. A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said, "Officers were called to Saunderton, Princes Risborough, at just after 3.35pm on Thursday, January 12.
"Sadly, the body of a man was located inside a property at that location. The man’s death is unexplained but not suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner.
"His next of kin have been made aware and our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends." A source told The Sun nerwspaper it is suspected Watkinson, apparently nicknamed 'Sir Smashy' after a Harry Enfield character by colleagues, was under "huge mental strain" due to the case.
The news follows recent revelations that another serving Metropolitan Police officer had admitted 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, after carrying out sex attacks on a dozen women over an 18-year period.
The force had to apologise to the victims of Pc David Carrick, 48, after it emerged that he'd come to the attention of police over nine incidents - including allegations of rape, domestic violence, and harassment - between 2000 and 2021. However, Carrick had faced no criminal sanctions or misconduct findings and was only suspended from duty after being arrested over a second rape complaint in October last year.
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