Pant police worker is sacked

John Frankland, 60, from Pant, between Welshpool and Oswestry, appeared at Telford Magistrates' Court on April 10 charged with three counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.

He received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Frankland, a retired police officer, worked as a Communication Centre Operator based at Shrewsbury. The offences were not committed while he was at work.

Superintendent Helena Bennett, head of professional standards for West Mercia Police, said: "The member of staff had been suspended from duty and has since been dismissed from his post."

She said that the outcome of the misconduct hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.