An ex-Wiltshire copper had a “morbid fascination” with vile bestiality videos, a court heard.
Former inspector Ian Stevenson, 57, pleaded guilty to the possession of 144 extreme pornographic images.
At Bristol Crown Court today (Friday), the defendant – who has previous convictions for assaulting police officers – was fined £500 for the offence.
In an interview, he told officers that his interest in BDSM (which stands for bondage, domination, sadism and masochism) porn became a “morbid fascination” in humans having sex with animals.
Wiltshire Police said they started the investigation in 2020, after Stevenson had left the organisation.
A spokesperson said it is not possible to confirm the exact dates the offence occurred, therefore we are unable to say whether this offending took place when Stevenson was a serving Wiltshire Police officer.
Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith said: “Like the communities we serve, we find the nature of this offence abhorrent.
“Although it is not possible for us to say categorically that this offending did not take place whilst Stevenson was a serving officer, I can appreciate the questions and concerns it raises.
“We are totally committed to tackling offences of this nature and will robustly investigate – without fear or favour – when allegations are made, as we did with this case as soon as the possession of the images was identified.”
Stevenson, of The Marsh, Wanborough, near Swindon, won the Police Bravery Awards in 2018, after saving a suicidal woman from the railway line in Salisbury just moments before the train arrive.
Former Chief Constable Kier Pritchard, at the time, described him as being a “shining example of bravery and dedication to public safety”.
