A former North Yorkshire Police officer is facing a possible jail sentence after he admitted downloading indecent images of children and voyeurism offences.

Paul Robert Beckwith, 53, appeared at York Magistrates’ Court today (October 29) when he pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children and five counts of voyeurism.

Beckwith admitted possessing 22 sexual images of children including 11 rated category A – the most extreme kind. 

He also admitted five counts of voyeurism in that he secretly recorded females doing a private act and that he did this for his own sexual gratification when they did not consent. These offences occurred in York between June 2019 and October 2020.

None of the offences are connected to his former role as a police officer.

Beckwith, who appeared in courtroom 3 at the magistrates’ court wearing a suit and blue tie, was immediately suspended from his policing duties when he was arrested on November 17 last year.

He is known for supporting the father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence after her disappearance. He sat beside the late Peter Lawrence as he appealed for information on her disappearance five days after Claudia vanished in March 2009.

Prosecutor Sarah Tyrer urged magistrates to send the case to the crown court for sentence given the “gravity” of the offences and the fact that Beckwith was a serving police officer at the time, though the offences weren’t in any way connected to his role.

Beckwith’s solicitor Colin Byrne said that Beckwith, from York, had led a hitherto blameless life and was a “man of positive good character”.

He said the downloading of the indecent images occurred on one occasion only, thought to be in October last year.

Mr Byrne added that Beckwith had served in the police force for 33 years before his suspension late last year.

District judge Richard Kitson noted several aggravating features in the case, including that Beckwith actively searched for indecent images of children on the internet.

There had been “numerous” searches for such imagery “quite clearly aimed at young teenage children”.

He said the matters were so serious they should be sent to the crown court for sentence as the magistrates’ court’s sentencing powers were insufficient.

The case was sent to York Crown Court for sentence on November 19.

Mr Kitson ordered an “all-options” probation report before sentence, which included the possibility of jail.

Beckwith was granted bail until that date with conditions including that he had no advertent contact with any females under 18 years of age.