Social worker posted indecent child video in colleagues' leaving do WhatsApp chat

A social worker has appeared in court for possessing indecent images of children after accidentally posting a pornographic video of a child in a work WhatsApp group.

Roy Reid was employed by Croydon Children's Services when he shared the video in a group chat created to arrange a leaving celebration for a colleague.

His colleagues began to leave the group chat after the video was sent on September 20, 2019, and Reid was reported to management, who in turn contacted police.

Reid, 58, was arrested later the same day. However, analysis of his phone conducted as part of the investigation resulted in further indecent and extreme images being uncovered by officers.

He appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday (August 19) having pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs of a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

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Reid earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child when he appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court.

The victim of the indecent video has never been identified.

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Kate Shilton, senior crown prosecutor within the CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said Reid's interest in indecent images was "shocking and abhorrent".

She added: "Roy Reid was a trusted employee within children's services and his interest in indecent images of children was both shocking and abhorrent.

"The prosecution case included statements from members of the WhatsApp group and a forensic analysis of Reid's phone which brought up further graphic and illegal images of concern.

"I would like to highlight the actions of many of those in the WhatsApp group who stood by their profession and reported Reid's crimes.

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"The CPS will always seek to bring to justice those who fuel the sexual exploitation of children."

Reid, of Catford, Lewisham, will be sentenced at the same court on 23 September.

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