@Stuart Elliot
Being a criminal means you have no rights and should roll over to anyone who comes your way and tries to blackmail you?
<rant>
You blithering idiot! Your very words bespeak you as a cretin, sir, and I find your comments offensive and 'hoodish'. You are quite clearly of the mindset of the worst of estate hooligans which leaves Me to wonder how your using a pc to get on the internet? Are you by chance robbing someones house?
</rant>
In all seriousness though... My friend was convicted of similar offences, did his time in jail, came out a broken man who was placed in the usual Sex Offenders rehab programmes which I have had the distasteful duty of dropping him off at so he can continue on his road of becoming the man I know he is. I have seen his end of programme report in which it is claimed he still has some issues but is effectively... 'ok'
He is setting up his life once more with a girlfriend who knows his past, he has a job, a baby on the way and he is doing good... At what point, considering his past, does it make it ok for ANYONE to upset that? What that copper did is essentially terrorism on a personal level, I am disgusted that the Met couldnt pick up on this sooner and I think he got off lightly, VERY lightly...
Not to mention the sheer fear of mine that police have this much power and I echo the thoughts of "if the police cannot manage THIS much power and regulate it effectively, how can they be trusted with something bigger and far more powerful?'
Mine's the one with the Channel Island work visa