Officier misuses authority, posing as a child predator vigilante to extort a man

In a shocking turn of events, a South Yorkshire Police officer, Pc Marie Thompson, has pleaded guilty to blackmail and perverting the course of justice at Leeds Crown Court. The officer, who is 29 years old, was in charge of a police investigation involving a man who was arrested for possessing indecent images of children.

The incident began in January 2023 when the man received an email from a ProtonMail address. The email claimed to be from a group known as Paedophile Hunters and demanded £3,500 be paid into a bank account, stating that the payment would "ensure that information remains between you and us".

Six weeks later, the man was contacted again by Pc Thompson, who lied and stated that the sender of the blackmail emails and texts could not be traced. Later the same day, the man's partner received a text message requesting a reply by the end of the day. This text message was sent from Pc Thompson's personal mobile phone.

The man did not transfer any money and reported the correspondence to South Yorkshire Police. Pc Thompson then falsely endorsed a crime report to say that the man did not want to pursue a complaint. As a result, the investigation into the man's possession of indecent images of children was closed.

Another officer took over the investigation and was informed about the report of blackmail. Pc Thompson was arrested and interviewed by Pc Marie Thompson in October 2022. After the interview, the man was released under investigation, pending further examination of his digital devices.

Examination of Pc Thompson's laptop showed email fragments that matched the heading of the blackmail email, but the contents and recipient address could not be recovered. Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, stated that Pc Thompson's conduct amounted to a serious abuse of trust.

Pc Thompson was suspended from South Yorkshire Police in March 2023 for other matters. Her sentencing is scheduled for October 30 at Leeds Crown Court. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity and trust that the public places in the police force.