A RETIRED Gwent Police officer has avoided a prison sentence after indecent images of children were found on his laptop.

Shaun Ballinger, aged 48, of Glassworks Cottages, Newport, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court today charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

The court heard Ballinger had been a detective constable and was still serving with Gwent Police when the indecent images were downloaded on his computer.

Ballinger served for 28 years but was not 'active' four months prior to the images being found due to ill health.

He was a serving officer until July this year.

Francis Jones, prosecuting, told the court police in June of this year found an Acer and a HP laptop in a bag under the stairs of his home. On examination 36 indecent images of children were found on the Acer laptop; nine category A videos - the most serious, 16 category B videos and 11 category C images.

Mr Jones said all of the images were of girls aged between six and 12-years-old.

Police also found 129 images some of which were indecent but of poor quality.

The court heard the computer had only one account by the name of Shaun and that clearing software had been run on it at least four times before police searched the defendant's home.

Mr Jones said a storage pen had been plugged into the computer to view the images but Ballinger in his police interview said he had dumped this into the River Usk.

Ballinger initially denied knowledge of the images telling officers his internet network was not secure and maybe his neighbour who didn't like him because of his profession gained access to his home.

A second interview was held where Ballinger fully admitted to possessing the images. He told officers from his work he had developed a 'morbid interest' in the images.

The court heard he has no previous convictions.

Nigel Fryer, defending, said Ballinger is 'absolutely devastated by what has happened' and invited the court to consider a community order as a former police officer the defendant would be at 'greater risk' in custody.

He said Ballinger understands his 28 years as a police officer is not 'credit plus.'

He said Ballinger is 'someone who has served the public and unfortunately in the recent year has fallen because of this offence from that very high bar.

"He understand he must be punished."

He said Ballinger's whole family had been affected but his wife was 'sticking by him.' He told the court Ballinger has two daughter - one of whom has had a break down because of her father's actions.

Mr Fryer said Ballinger is seeking help for mental health issues after he 'bottled up a lot of emotions' while working as an officer.

Judge Geraint Walters gave Ballinger a three year community order with requirements to attend a sexual offenders treatment programme.

He said: "You knew again better than most that these image of children are of real children, real children being grossly abused."

The judge said it would be 'wrong' to 'punish' Ballinger 'more severely' as a former police officer.

He said although the offences did pass the custody threshold in reality it would be weeks in prison.

Ballinger will be on the sex offenders register for five years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Gwent police Deputy Chief Constable, Craig Guildford said: “Child sexual exploitation is a key priority for Gwent Police. 

“Our aim is to safeguard children whilst carrying out enforcement opportunities to catch paedophiles and bring them to justice. 

“As a force we strive to proactively hunt down such individuals who continue to download, make and share images of young people being abused. Such offending knows no societal bounds whatsoever.

“Ex-Detective Constable Shaun Ballinger held a position of trust whilst employed as a serving officer and it is down to the forces’ continuing investment in new technology and techniques that he has been brought to justice, demonstrated by his guilty plea. 

“Police Officers are subject to the same laws as every other citizen and we expect our officers to demonstrate the highest levels of personal and professional behaviour.  

“This expectation is unequivocal and today’s sentencing reflects our commitment to deal with anyone who chooses to break the law and engage in such illegal activity.

“These acts tarnish our collective reputation regardless of whether an individual has retired or not. However the important point here is not really one of reputation, it is that such crimes always have a victim, someone who is, or was considerably vulnerable, someone who as a child, at some stage was abused in order to produce an image for subsequent paedophilic gratification. This is a serious violation of human decency regardless of when or where it happened, a fact that is often missed in many cases. 

“The behaviour of Mr Ballinger was completely unacceptable and as such, he has rightfully faced the consequences today.

“Gwent Police continues to invest in the latest technology and to recruit more specialist officers who are investigating such crimes on a daily basis. The message I give to those committing such offences is very clear, ‘We are coming for you, will find you and we are determined to bring you to justice on behalf of the public’.”


Detective Sergeant Stuart Crocker, who led the investigation said: “This outcome demonstrates how Gwent Police is committed to identifying offenders who possess indecent images of children.

“Regardless of who the individual is, we will bring them to justice.  

“The safeguarding of children is of paramount importance to us as a police force and this case demonstrates our commitment.”