Former Norfolk police officer spared jail over child images

Julian Roots was found to have sexual images and videos of children as young as six including some who were in obvious distress. 

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told it followed a police search of his home address in October 2023 after suspicions were raised about alleged offences.  

Child sex images and videos were found after 14 devices were seized from the home of Julian Roots (Image: PA)

The 62-year-old, who retired from Norfolk police in 2012 but has since run a business as a civilian criminal justice consultant working with police forces, pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children. 

He also admitted the possession of six illegal extreme pornographic images. 

READ MORE: Former Norfolk police officer jailed over indecent images of children

Catherine Newsome, prosecuting, said the images had been discovered following specialist analysis of 14 electronic devices seized by police.

They included 25 still images and 118 videos assessed to be category A, the most serious, which includes extreme sexual acts. 

He was also found to have dozens of category B still images and videos and 30 judged to be category C. 

Julian Roots was given a suspended sentence at Norwich Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest)

Magistrates suspended a six month jail sentence for two years and ordered he do 200 hours' of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation days aimed at addressing his offending.  

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register and made subject of a five year sexual harm prevention order.

READ MORE: Norfolk police officer sent sexual pics to female colleagues

Annette Hall, mitigating, said: “He is ashamed, genuinely remorseful and disgusted by his own actions and what he has done. 

“He has not pretended or blamed anyone else and has shown some real understanding and victim empathy. He is under no illusions how serious these matters are.”

Roots, who gave the court an address in Derbyshire, where he now lives, was a sergeant in charge of the safer neighbourhood team in Diss when he retired. 

He had previously worked in the control room at police headquarters in Wymondham and as a CID detective in Norwich.