MPS officer pleads to guilty to child sex offences
A serving Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer has pleaded guilty to attempting to have sex with an underage girl.
Detective Constable Mark Collins, who is attached to the MPS’s South Area Command Unit, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (January 27).
The 57-year-old officer pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity (with penetration) on or before November 24, 2019.
He also pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child. The offences are alleged to have occurred between November 4, 2019, and November 26, 2019.
Collins was on duty while some of the offences were alleged to have occurred.
The MPS said its Directorate of Professional Standards “is aware and misconduct proceedings are ongoing”. The officer is currently suspended.
Collins will be sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on a date to be confirmed.