October 2016
How many more victims does this paedophile police officer have?
‘Very serious questions’ must be answered about why a paedophile police officer was allowed to serve for years after allegations against him were first made.
A complaint was made against Allan Richards in 2004 – but he continued working, albeit in a non-public role, and retired as a sergeant in 2011.
He was then accused of many more offences, and has now been convicted of voyeurism and sex offences against 17 victims as young as eight.
Richards, 54, was allowed to get away with his horrific crimes for decades, with offences happening between the 1970s and 2013.
The former Scout leader was kicked out of the organisation when the first allegation was made, but was allowed to keep his job, with the investigation eventually relaunched in 2014.
Over two trials, Birmingham Crown Court was told he sexually abused boys at West Midlands police stations – including Birmingham Central Police Station in Steelhouse Lane, at Scout camps, in swimming pools, in a park, at his home, and other locations that cannot be disclosed.
In total he was convicted of 40 offences against 22 boys.
The court heard that six victims were abused after the first police investigation.
Richards was convicted of 20 indecent assaults over two trials at Birmingham Crown Court.
During a search of his home in Thaxted Road, Tile Cross, Birmingham, detectives found a list of male names Richards had a ‘sexual interest’ in.
They also discovered diaries where Richards kept details of ‘touching’ boys as well as describing their underwear, and notes of their pubic and body hair.
He also went on to use the force computer to ‘keep tabs’ on his victims, with these searches representing 25 per cent of all his 8,000 inquiries into the database.
It is believed there are more victims police have been unable to trace.
He was also found guilty of misconduct in a public office, sexual activity with a child, serious sexual assault, gross indecency, sexual activity with a child, and voyeurism.
Richards will be sentenced on November 4.
In the wake of the verdicts, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: ‘It is extremely worrying that Richards was able to remain an officer until as recently as 2011.
‘I have commissioned a public report into the failings of West Midlands Police to ensure nothing like this can ever happen again.
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray said West Midlands Police had apologised to all of Richards’ victims.
