A detective from Merseyside Police has been dismissed with immediate effect after admitting to paying a 17-year-old boy for sexual services and illegally accessing the force's computer systems.
Gross Misconduct Leads to Dismissal
DC John Rigby, 37, from St Helens, was found guilty of gross misconduct at an accelerated hearing chaired by Chief Constable Rob Carden. The panel concluded his actions were deliberate and brought policing "nationally into disrepute". Rigby was dismissed without notice and his name has been placed on the College of Policing barred list, preventing any future employment in policing.
Carden stated that Rigby's conduct was "wholly inconsistent" with the values expected of a modern police officer. He emphasised the vulnerability of children involved in sex work and noted the significant damage such behaviour causes to public trust in the police service across the UK.
Criminal Convictions and Unauthorised Searches
In November, at Chester Magistrates' Court, Rigby pleaded guilty to paying for the sexual services of a male child aged 16 or 17. The charge specified that from 13 February 2025, Rigby knew the male was 17 but continued to pay for sex.
He also admitted a separate charge of unauthorised access to the Merseyside police computer system. The court heard that Rigby accessed the system on three occasions during March and April to obtain information on two males. An official report confirmed there was "no policing purpose for these searches", rendering his use of the system entirely improper.
Awaiting Sentence and Force Response
Rigby is currently on remand in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced at a crown court on 16 January. According to police regulations, his salary was stopped as soon as he was taken into custody in November.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sarbjit Kaur, head of the force's Professional Standards Department, condemned Rigby's actions while seeking to reassure the public. She praised the "overwhelming majority" of Merseyside Police officers who serve with "compassion and integrity". Kaur stressed that the force would not allow individuals to damage the reputation built by their colleagues.
The misconduct report was unequivocal, stating that by paying for sex with a vulnerable child and being criminally convicted, Rigby had acted in a manner that tarnished the national image of policing. Chief Constable Carden concluded that it was "inconceivable" for someone imprisoned for such sexual offences to remain a police officer.
