A serving Metropolitan Police officer has admitted sending sexual messages to a 15-year old boy.
Suspended PC Will Scott-Barrett, 33, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual communication with a child on or before February 3 last year.
An earlier hearing was told he was in contact with the youngster using the Snapchat and Discord social media apps from April 2020.
Scott-Barrett sent messages including graphic sexual pictures and videos to the boy, who cannot be named.
The officer was off-duty at the time of his offending, which is not said to have been connected with his role in the force.
New Scotland Yard
Kirsty O'Connor
Judge Robin Johnson adjourned sentencing to February 28 for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports to be prepared.
But he warned Scott-Barrett, of Bromley, south-east London, he faces a possible jail sentence.
“Whoever sentences you, you will appreciate the starting point appears to be 12 months imprisonment and you should brace yourself for a period of imprisonment if that is the conclusion of the sentencing judge,” he said.
The officer, who is based in the Met’s intelligence command, was charged in November after an investigation by the force’s online child sexual abuse and exploitation command.
The Met previously said Scott-Barrett was suspended from duty after the initial allegation was made in February last year and the Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.