Retired Met police officers charges with child sexual abuse

• Jack Addis, 63, and Jeremy Laxton, 62, charged with crimes involving child rape.
• Charges relate to enquiry into death of serving Met chief inspector Richard Watkinson.
• Watkinson was found dead in Buckinghamshire on January 12.

In connection with an enquiry into the death of a serving Met chief inspector, two retired members of the Metropolitan Police have been charged with crimes involving child rape.

According to the Met, Richard Watkinson’s enquiry led to the charges.

While not being suspicious, his death is being viewed as unexplained.

On February 9, Jack Addis, 63, of Perthshire, and Jeremy Laxton, 62, of Lincolnshire, will make their court appearances at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Ch Insp Watkinson, 49, was the West Area Command Unit’s chief inspector for neighborhood policing. His employment had been stopped after his incarceration.

On January 12, he was discovered dead in Buckinghamshire. According to the Met, he was scheduled to face charges for voyeurism, voyeurism conspiracy, three counts of creating obscene photos of a minor, and two counts of misconduct in public service.

Ch Insp Watkinson’s death was the subject of an open and adjourned inquest.

Cmdr. Jon Savell from the Met’s professional standards team said: “Ch Insp Watkinson was facing extremely serious and concerning charges, as the result of a painstaking and thorough police investigation.

“Before this matter came to light, we had no previous information about these allegations or to indicate the officer posed any risk to the public.

“He had not faced any other criminal or conduct matters during his Met career.”

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