Ministry of Defence Police firearms officer sentenced for making indecent images of children

A 24-year-old former Ministry of Defence Police officer has been sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court for making indecent images of children in June 2021.

Andrew Stevenson was a serving firearms officer with the Ministry of Defence Police, stationed at Barrow-in Furness and residing in Ulverston when he downloaded the 165 indecent images of children. 

As a result of receiving intelligence, on 17 August 2021 Cumbria police executed a search warrant at Stevenson's home address. They seized an iPad and an iPhone; following forensic examination they were found to contain 94 Category A images, 37 Category B images and 34 Category C images.

Andrew Stevenson appeared at Carlisle Magistrates' Court on 22 August 2022. He pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images.

He was sentenced today to a three year community order with 200 hours unpaid work, he must attend a Making Changes Programme and his IT equipment was confiscated. He was issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the Sexual Offenders Register for five years. 

Katie Beattie for the CPS said: "As a serving police officer, Andrew Stevenson was expected to uphold the law and protect people. 

"By downloading these images he was feeding directly into an industry which sexually exploits children.

"The CPS and the police will continue to work together to robustly prosecute anyone who commits such abhorrent offences, particularly those in positions of trust in our society."