A former Metropolitan Police officer has been swiftly sacked and sentenced for sharing vile messages about child sexual abuse all within a month of his arrest.

Fast-Tracked Justice After Sick Messages Surface

PC Duncan Bouette, once part of the Mets North East Command Unit, was arrested on Tuesday, 7 October by the Central Specialist Crime Unit. The next day, he faced two charges under the Obscene Publications Act.

By Thursday, 9 October, Bouette pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court. Less than a month later, on 6 November, he was handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.

Harsh Restrictions and Lifetime Ban

Bouette also received a three-year criminal behaviour order, banning him from any unsupervised contact with children and restricting his use of digital devices. Following his guilty plea, an accelerated misconduct hearing led to his dismissal from the force on 4 November.

Superintendent Lynne Forster slammed his conduct as “completely unacceptable.” She added, “From his arrest to dismissal and sentencing has taken less than a month, showing our determination to tackle offending by our officers.”

He will now be placed on the Barred List by the College of Policing, barring him from ever working as a police officer again.

Disturbing Details Revealed

• Messages detailing child sexual abuse were sent on 18 November 2024.
• Between 2 and 3 October, Bouette sent messages about extreme, violent sexual acts via a secure app.
• The Met received information on 7 October, prompting his arrest.

This case highlights the Mets zero-tolerance approach to criminal behaviour within its ranks.