Detective Constable John Rigby knew the boy was aged 16 or 17 but continued to pay him for sexual services
The misconduct hearing was held at Merseyside Police HQ(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
A shamed Merseyside Police detective paid a child for sex. Detective Constable John Rigby knew the child was aged 16 or 17 but continued to pay him for sexual services on February 13, 2025.
The now former police officer was later charged with the offence and pleaded guilty in November last year. Rigby was also charged with three counts of unauthorised access to the police computer system in relation to different incidents on March 4, March 6 and April 25.
He also pleaded guilty to the computer system offences during the appearance at Chester Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded in custody to appear before the crown court due to the severity of the offences. He will be sentenced on January 16.
Rigby appeared before an accelerated misconduct hearing on December 17 chaired by the force’s top officer, Chief Constable Rob Carden. It was heard he had breached the standards of professional behaviour on numerous occasions to the level of gross misconduct and was given the sanction of immediate dismissal.
Chief Constable Carden said: “The officer has admitted paying for sexual services from a male child whom he knew to be a male child. Children, particularly those who turn to sex work, are among the most vulnerable in society.
“To pay for sexual services from a child is wholly inconsistent with the values and behaviours that should be demonstrated by a police officer in the 21st century. The impact behaviour such as this can have on policing in the UK cannot be underestimated.”
Turning to the computer offences, the chief constable continued: “I have considered those standards and this incontrovertible and admitted conduct clearly breaches those standards. Police officers are trusted by the public only to use force systems for a policing purpose and not for unauthorised enquiries to satisfy their own curiosity.
“This behaviour on the part of any officer does untold harm and leads to a massive lack of confidence. The officer did not follow force orders in relation to the use of systems, he failed in his duty as a police officer in accessing the system in the way in which he did and as I have said, such activity does untold damage to the police service as a whole and is therefore discreditable conduct.
“I find that the conduct admitted by the officer amounts to gross misconduct, i.e. conduct so serious that dismissal is justified. The officer is wholly culpable for this conduct. His actions were plainly deliberate and this can be nothing other than gross misconduct.”
Chief Constable Carden added: “I have found the facts in this case and assessed the level of seriousness. I remind myself that the purpose of disciplinary proceedings is to maintain public confidence in and the reputation of the police service, uphold high standards in policing and deter misconduct, and protect the public.
“It is clear from the evidence that the officer was wholly culpable for his acts. He has admitted the same. The harm caused is high. Officers are to uphold the standards of professional behaviour and the police in accordance with the code of ethics. The aggravating factor is that the officer’s actions were deliberate.
“It is inconceivable that a person who has been imprisoned for sexual offences can still serve as a police officer. No mitigation has been provided and the officer has not tendered his resignation.
“I find that the only appropriate outcome to impose there is that of dismissal without notice. I instruct that the officer is to be added to the College of Policing barred list.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Sarbjit Kaur, head of Merseyside Police’s professional standards department, added: “The overwhelming majority of people who work for Merseyside Police join the force to support and help the public and they serve our communities with compassion and integrity on a daily basis.
“We will not allow individuals to damage the good name built up by the vast majority of our officers who do an exemplary job and serve our communities with compassion, integrity and professionalism. I would also like to reassure the public that as soon as he was imprisoned, his salary was stopped in accordance with police regulations and he hasn’t received any payment from Merseyside Police since this date.
“We cannot afford to have officers and staff working for us who do not uphold the highest levels of professionalism, and will always be robust in dealing with officers, or staff, whose conduct is unacceptable.
“It is vital that we as a police force maintain the public’s trust and confidence and ensure that officers and staff throughout the force realise the importance of maintaining the standards of professional behaviour. The public quite rightly have high expectations of police officers and Merseyside Police is committed to meeting those expectations by demanding high standards of professionalism.”