A Merseyside Police detective has been dismissed without notice after pleading guilty to paying a 17-year-old boy for sex. DC John Rigby, 37, from St Helens, was found guilty of gross misconduct by an accelerated misconduct hearing panel chaired by Chief Constable Rob Carden.
The investigation into Rigby's actions revealed that he had paid the teenager for sexual services on multiple occasions, despite knowing his age and being aware of the implications of such behavior. This was deemed a serious breach of trust and unacceptable conduct, particularly given Rigby's position as a law enforcement officer.
Carden emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the actions of officers like Rigby can have a significant impact on policing in the UK. "The impact behaviour such as this can have on policing in the UK cannot be overestimated," he said.
In addition to his dismissal, Rigby faces charges at Chester Magistrates' Court and is due to be sentenced by a Crown Court judge on January 16th. He has also been added to the College of Policing barred list, prohibiting him from working as a police officer again.
The force's professional standards department described Rigby's actions as "wholly inconsistent with the values and behaviours that should be demonstrated by a police officer in the 21st century." They emphasized that the vast majority of officers are committed to serving their communities with compassion, integrity, and professionalism, and will not tolerate individuals who compromise this good name.
It is worth noting that Rigby was also found guilty of unauthorized access to the force's computer system. The investigation revealed that he had accessed the system multiple times in search of information about two males, with no policing purpose for these searches.
The investigation into Rigby's actions revealed that he had paid the teenager for sexual services on multiple occasions, despite knowing his age and being aware of the implications of such behavior. This was deemed a serious breach of trust and unacceptable conduct, particularly given Rigby's position as a law enforcement officer.
Carden emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the actions of officers like Rigby can have a significant impact on policing in the UK. "The impact behaviour such as this can have on policing in the UK cannot be overestimated," he said.
In addition to his dismissal, Rigby faces charges at Chester Magistrates' Court and is due to be sentenced by a Crown Court judge on January 16th. He has also been added to the College of Policing barred list, prohibiting him from working as a police officer again.
The force's professional standards department described Rigby's actions as "wholly inconsistent with the values and behaviours that should be demonstrated by a police officer in the 21st century." They emphasized that the vast majority of officers are committed to serving their communities with compassion, integrity, and professionalism, and will not tolerate individuals who compromise this good name.
It is worth noting that Rigby was also found guilty of unauthorized access to the force's computer system. The investigation revealed that he had accessed the system multiple times in search of information about two males, with no policing purpose for these searches.
. It's just mind-boggling how he thought he could get away with it, knowing exactly what he was doing was wrong. And now, not only is he fired from the police department, but he's facing serious charges and is going to be barred from working as a cop again 
. It's like, how did this happen? The whole thing just stinks of abuse of power and corruption. And on top of that, he even accessed the police computer system for his own weird reasons 
... talk about a slippery slope. This is exactly why we need more accountability in our institutions, especially when it comes to those with power and trust.
The whole thing is just gross. I mean, I know we gotta hold ppl accountable 4 their actions but this one's just low. Not to mention the fact he was lookin into some dude's computer records w/ no policing purpose... that's like, a major breach of trust right there! 
Anywayz, glad he's gettin fired, I hope he gets the sentence he deserves & is on the barred list 4eva 
.
This is so unbelievable... a cop who gets caught doing something like this should be taken out of circulation ASAP! 37 years old and still thinking he can just pay someone for sex? The fact that he was in a position to know better makes it even worse, like he knew right from wrong but chose to ignore it anyway. He's gonna have to answer to the system now, but I hope his actions don't reflect poorly on all law enforcement officers out there. 
And now we have to deal with the fallout and wonder who else might be doing similar things behind closed doors. 
, I mean, you get guys like John Rigby who are supposed to protect and serve, and they end up letting you down in the worst possible way. It's not just what he did, it's the fact that he was able to do it while still working as a detective, and let his colleagues and the public down. I feel bad for the kid he paid for sex too, it's a terrible thing for someone so young to be going through. But at the same time, it's also a wake-up call for all of us, especially in positions like that, to make sure we're always doing the right thing and upholding our values. It's not just about one guy making a mistake, it's about creating a culture where mistakes aren't tolerated. The fact that he's been barred from working as a cop again is definitely a step in the right direction 
Can't believe a copper like this is still walking around! I mean, I know we've all got our own demons and stuff, but to be a law enforcement officer and get caught up in something like this? It's just wrong on so many levels. 17 years old, for crying out loud! That kid should be getting protection not paid for by the same guy who's supposed to protect him! And the fact that he accessed the force's computer system without a reason? That's just reckless and irresponsible. I'm all for holding people accountable, but in this case, I think it's a bit harsh that he was let go without notice. You've got to follow due process, right?
144hz refresh rate is like whoa! been playing all night and my reactions are so much faster now 
anyway, what was up with this police guy Rigby? paying for sex from a minor? no way dude 
that's just wrong on every level. and accessing the computer system without permission? that's like, major breach of trust, you feel me? 
can't believe he got caught out 
. The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated, it's a stark reminder that power and authority come with immense responsibility 
.
. We must continue to hold each other accountable for our actions, especially those in positions of power who are entrusted with serving the greater good 
.
, but then I started thinking about how some of those old movies must be so cheesy now 
! Anyway, back to Rigby... can't believe a cop would do something so wrong 
like "don't hire me, don't give me a job" btw, unauthorized access to the computer system? sounds like rigby was trying to dig up dirt on some other ppl, thought he was above the law. newsflash rigby: you're NOT above the law 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a 17-yr-old for 'companion' services? It's not like he was using his badge to get ahead or exploiting someone who couldn't say no... anyway, at least he got caught before it was too late, right? I'm just glad the force is taking this seriously and sending a strong message: if you're gonna mess up, you gotta own up to it. And btw, 17-yr-old boy gets more attention than the poor guy who's gonna be on the receiving end of Rigby's "expert" advice now... silver linings? 
. Let's hope he gets sentenced to something serious for his actions 
.
This just broke my heart... a 37-year-old detective, supposed to be upholding justice and protecting the community, caught red-handed for exploiting a 17-year-old kid 
this is a massive fail on so many levels - how did we miss this guy? and what kind of background checks are even needed anymore? i mean, come on, he's 37 and thought it was cool to pay some teenager for sex... meanwhile, his colleagues are expected to just ignore that kinda behavior because the "vast majority" are supposedly good eggs? 
. Like, what if he was just really stupid or something? 
about it, but they should be too 
But still... maybe we can learn from this and make sure something like this never happens again 
.