Mark Rosebury, a 38-year-old former police officer with Greater Manchester Police, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for possessing and downloading explicit images of children. The sentencing comes after Rosebury admitted to possessing images in all three categories, as well as extreme pornographic images and prohibited images of children.
Rosebury, who was a serving officer at the time of his arrest, was arrested in May 2023 after police received information concerning peer-to-peer file sharing. During a search of his home, police seized his devices and found a vast collection of explicit images, including 257 category A images, 110 category B images, and 150 category C images. Additionally, police found three prohibited images of children and nine extreme pornographic images.
The investigation into Rosebury’s activities was conducted by Lancashire Constabulary, with assistance from Greater Manchester Police. Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of Greater Manchester Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said that Rosebury’s actions were “disgraceful” and fell far below the high standards expected of police officers.
“Mark Rosebury’s crimes have caused significant harm to the children involved and have damaged public confidence in the police service as a whole,” Allen said. “He should be ashamed of his actions and the impact they have had on the public’s trust in the police.”
Rosebury’s defense team argued that his job as a collision reconstruction expert had contributed to his numbness and subsequent actions. However, Judge Robert Altham rejected this argument, stating that Rosebury’s work could not provide an excuse for his behavior.
“Each of those children is a living, breathing human being who had been exploited in a horrible way so you could watch,” Judge Altham said. “Your work cannot provide any excuse or reason for you to resort to watching the suffering of children. When police officers commit offences there is a loss of public confidence in the police service as a whole.”
Rosebury’s role with the East Lancashire Railway, where he was a volunteer, has been terminated. A spokesperson for the railway said that Rosebury’s role did not require interaction with the general public, and his termination was a result of his criminal activity.
As a result of his conviction, Rosebury has been suspended from the police force and will no longer receive pay. A misconduct hearing will be accelerated to address Rosebury’s actions, as there is no longer a risk of prejudicing criminal proceedings.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining high professional standards in the police service. It also highlights the need for officers to be held accountable for their actions and the devastating impact that their behavior can have on the public’s trust in the police.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said that they would continue to work with Lancashire Constabulary to ensure that Rosebury is brought to justice for his crimes. The force also emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in the police service.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our officers are held to the highest standards of behavior and that we maintain the trust and confidence of the public,” a spokesperson said. “We will not tolerate any behavior that compromises our values and will take swift and appropriate action against any officer who fails to meet those standards.”
The public expects a high level of professionalism and integrity from police officers, and Rosebury’s actions have fallen far short of those expectations. His crimes have caused harm to the children involved and have damaged public confidence in the police service as a whole.
Rosebury’s colleagues and superiors at Greater Manchester Police are said to be shocked and disappointed by his actions. The force has a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of misconduct or criminal behavior, and Rosebury’s actions are seen as a betrayal of the public’s trust.
The case has also raised concerns about the potential for police officers to engage in criminal activity. The public expects police officers to uphold the law and maintain public trust, and any breach of that trust can have serious consequences.
In conclusion, Mark Rosebury’s conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining high professional standards in the police service. His actions have caused harm to the children involved and have damaged public confidence in the police service as a whole. The case highlights the need for officers to be held accountable for their actions and the devastating impact that their behavior can have on the public’s trust in the police.