Cheshire police officer found guilty of raping 13-year old girl
30-year old Ian Naude admitted 31 offences in connection with grooming teenage girls online.
Last updated 15th Nov 2018
A paedophile police officer has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
Ian Naude, who was working as a student officer for Cheshire Police at the time of the assault in October 2017, was described during the two-week trial as a selfish and cruel paedophile'' who was obsessed with taking the virginity of teenage girls and joined the force with the intention of meeting vulnerable victims.
On Thursday, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found him guilty of rape and sexual assault, as well as four charges of attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence and one charge of arranging a child sex offence, relating to five complainants aged between 12 and 15.
The court had been told the 30-year-old, who police believe may have more victims who have yet to come forward, had been acting on an ever increasing interest in young girls'' over the past six or seven years.
He started working for the police in April 2017, despite being named as a suspect in a child grooming case in a neighbouring force in the months leading up to his appointment, it has now emerged.
Naude, who previously served in Afghanistan as a machine gunner with the Royal Irish Regiment, was warned by Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC he faces a very significant sentence indeed''.
Summing up the case, Judge Goldstone said: The defence concede that this is a case which has fairly depicted the defendant as a cold, uncaring, selfish and cruel paedophile who has on occasion stooped as low as coercive and threatening behaviour, including blackmail of young girls, some of whom have been properly characterised as vulnerable.''
Naude admitted having sex with his victim, who he initially met while on duty, but claimed the 13-year-old had consented.
He also admitted two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, 14 counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of taking indecent photos of a child, four counts of making indecent photos of a child, six counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of possessing indecent photos of a child.
But, he denied that he had attempted to arrange to commit child sex offences, claiming that messages sent to girls asking them to meet were just fantasy.
Naude, originally from South Africa, had been called to a domestic incident at the victim's house in October 2017 and contacted her on Facebook days later.
After exchanging sexual images and messages over social media, he took her out in his car and raped her, the jury heard.
The court was told the father-of-one, based at Crewe police station, would gain the trust of young girls by posing on social media as a 15-year-old boy called Jake Green.
He also had an account under the name of Bruce Ian Wayne, an apparent reference to superhero Batman, and a Snapchat account named King Of The North.
The court heard after the rape was reported Naude was accidentally copied into a police email revealing the plan to arrest him.
When his phone was seized 756 images had been deleted from it.
Other devices, including a laptop and another phone, were later discovered in a field in Market Drayton after he gave a hand-drawn map of their location to his cellmate.
Naude will be sentenced on 13th December
Following today’s guilty Detective Chief Superintendent Aaron Duggan said: “It was Ian Naude’s job to enforce the law and protect the most vulnerable from harm. Instead he did the opposite and abused his position as a student police constable and used the power he had in that role to manipulate a young girl and take advantage of her, raping her in his car. As if that wasn’t bad enough he filmed part of what happened on his mobile phone.
“His behaviour was disgusting and the impact was devastating. I cannot begin to imagine what the victim has had to go through – first disclosing what happened to her and then having to relive the details during the trial.
“The courage and bravery that she has shown is nothing short of remarkable and I only hope that she can begin in some way to rebuild her life now that Naude has been convicted.”
The court heard that during the course of the investigation a number of electronic devices belonging to Naude were seized and examined. These revealed a large collection of indecent images and videos of children.
Detective Chief Superintendent Duggan added: “Ian Naude’s behaviour is nothing short of despicable. Police officers are placed in a position of trust and there are clear guidelines about the standards expected from a police officer, having contact with members of the public and accessing police information.
“Naude received training in all of these areas as part of his role and clearly knew what was expected of him. Sadly, he chose to ignore everything he had learnt. As soon as the allegations came to light Naude was suspended from the force and has been dismissed as an officer. There is no place in the police service for people like Naude.
“Cheshire Constabulary is committed to investigating any allegations of this nature – no matter who the alleged perpetrator is. Police officers are not above the law and will be treated in the same way as any other suspect.
“As a force we take any allegations of rape or sexual assault extremely seriously. Victims should never feel ashamed talking about what has happened to them. I would encourage anyone who has experienced this type of abuse to come forward and report it to the police – rest assured you will be taken seriously, listened to and treated with compassion.
An NSPCC spokesperson said: “To rape a 13 year old and shamelessly label it consensual is evil by any standard, let alone from a serving police officer.
“Naude used a trusted position to prey on a vulnerable victim, as he did many others, and much of his awful grooming was carried out online.
“The NSPCC wants a new, independent regulator with the power to fine social media companies who don’t do enough to root out this sickening behaviour.
“At the NSPCC, Our Letting the Future In service works with young people who have experienced sexual abuse to rebuild their lives so they can overcome the past and look forward with hope.”
To sign up to the NSPCC’s Wild West web petition click here. If you are concerned about a child, call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 8005000,. Children in need of support can contact Childline on 0800 1111