A retired chief inspector who downloaded indecent images of children while still serving in the force “would have been dismissed” had he still been working for Lancashire Constabulary, a misconduct hearing has concluded.

Pervert Steven Sansbury, from Blackburn, retired from Lancashire Police in 2022, but in October last year he pleaded guilty to downloading 10 indecent images of children between January 26 and February 10, 2009, keeping them on two devices at his home.

Following a misconduct hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Eugene Swift said "there is no place for people like Sansbury in Lancashire Constabulary".

Sansbury, 55, of Meadowfields, Blackburn, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court in November to a 12-month community order, with requirements of 80 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also made subject to notification requirements for five years.

Following his conviction, Sansbury, who previously worked as an inspector in Accrington before taking up a post at police headquarters in Preston in 2000, was made subject to a misconduct hearing at Ormskirk police station on February 15.

Chaired by Chief Constable Chris Rowley, the hearing was held to determine whether Sansbury had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

This allegation was found to be proved, and the panel ruled had Sansbury still been a serving officer, he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct.

His name has now been added to the police barring list.

A notice from the outcome of the hearing stated: “It was alleged that former chief inspector 466 Sansbury was charged with the offence of making an indecent image of a child and pleaded guilty to the offence.

“The chair found the conduct breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour, namely discreditable conduct, and amounted to gross misconduct.

“Had he still have been serving, former chief inspector 466 Sansbury would have been dismissed and his details will now be included on the barred list.”

During his sentence hearing in Manchester last year, prosecuting barrister Philip Barnes said: “The offences occurred between January 26, 2009 and February 10, 2009, whereby the defendant made seven category B images of children between the ages of 13 and 15, and three category C images of children between the ages of eight and 15.

“At the time the defendant was a serving officer in the Lancashire Constabulary. He was arrested originally as part of an investigation into other offences, which did not proceed further.

“His home address was searched on January 7, 2021. Following his arrest, electronic devices were seized including a Siemens laptop and a backup portable hard drive. Indecent images were found across a combination of the two devices.”

Sansbury was of previous good character before these offences and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Mitigating, David Pojur said: “Sansbury is 55-years-old and comes before the court humiliated, having been a senior police officer for three decades finding himself in the dock.

“There are a limited number of images. There was no determined search.”

Mr Barnes told the court Sansbury had accepted he had in the past downloaded pornography, though it was his belief all the models were over the age of 18 and the websites contained a disclaimer which said so.

READ MORE: Ex Blackburn police inspector downloaded 10 indecent images

Detective Chief Inspector Eugene Swift, of Lancashire Constabulary’s Professional Standards Dept, said: “We know the public will understandably be as appalled as we are by Sansbury’s behaviour, which is made more shocking by the fact it was committed by somebody in a position of trust.

“I would like to reassure the public that Sansbury was suspended from duty when his offending first came to light, which was as a result of an investigation by our Professional Standards Department.

“There is no place for people like Sansbury in Lancashire Constabulary and we will continue to work tirelessly to identify any behaviours that fall short of what the public expect from serving police officers and police staff to maintain public confidence.

"Where there is evidence of criminality, we will pursue prosecution and put people before the courts, and we will do everything in our power through our misconduct processes to get people like this out of the organisation.”