Two retired Met cops charged over ‘child porn ring’ linked to serving officer found dead
TWO retired Met cops have been charged over an alleged child porn ring linked to a serving chief inspector found dead before he could also be charged.
The Sun revealed on Monday how the body of Met chief inspector Richard Watkinson was discovered at his home after he failed to turn up to be charged over the alleged conspiracy.
He was due to answer bail last Thursday and Met officers were sent to his Buckinghamshire home to carry out a welfare check when didn’t arrive.
The Met yesterday finally confirmed that West London-based Watkinson was going to be charged with conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent photos of a child, voyeurism and two counts of misconduct in public office.
The Crown Prosecution Service had authorised charges against him.
His death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and an inquest has opened and adjourned.
Sources say it is suspected he killed himself and further toxicology tests are being carried out.
He had been suspended from duty following his arrest in July 2021.
His alleged conspirators and ex-Met cops Jack Addis, 63, of no fixed address but from Perthshire, Scotland, and Jeremy Laxton, 62, from Lincolnshire, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 9.
Addis has been charged with conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children.
He was arrested in November 2021.
Laxton has been charged with conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children, 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.
He was arrested in September 2021.
They both left the force over a decade ago.