Ex-cop gets one year for distributing child pornography

The court in Assen sentenced a 46-year-old former police officer to one year in prison, six months of which conditionally suspended, for the possession and distribution of child pornography. The Public Prosecutor demanded 15 months in prison against the Assen man, NU.nl reports.

The former cop was also accused of showing his genitals to two of his daughter's friends. The girls were 10 and 12 years old at the time. 

The man was arrested after the victims' mother went to the police in September last year. Her daughters told her that their friend's father masturbated in the doorway while they were playing in the garden. Child pornography was found on a USB stick and on his service cell phone. 

The man denied showing his genitals to his daughter's friends. He was airing his pubic area due to the heat, he said to the court. He also said that he did not deliberately search for child pornography, but accidentally stumbled upon it while searching for pornography featuring adult women.

According to the Public Prosecutor, the man "shamed the image of the entire police because of his actions". The Prosecutor also said that as a police officer, the man should have known "what a horrible world is hidden behind child pornography".

The man worked as a police officer for 15 years, according to Dagblad van het Noorden. He was dismissed after his arrest. He has four children and is active in the church.