A GLOUCESTERSHIRE police officer has admitted making making thousands of indecent images of children.

Former PC Stephen McGoldrick, 50, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (August 13) where he pleaded guilty to five counts of making indecent images of children.

All counts related to McGoldrick downloading or viewing images on the internet.

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The offences were committed between 2008 and 2019 and came to light when indecent images were found on McGoldrick's mobile phone in April this year.

Gloucestershire police subsequently secured warrants at two addresses linked to McGoldrick and seized multiple devices including a laptop and USB flash drives.

There were found to be a total of five Category A images, 23 Category B images and 9,134 Category C indecent images of children across ten devices.

McGoldrick was suspended before resigning from when he was charged with the offences in July.

He is due to face gross misconduct proceedings.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Hanson said: "These were very serious offences involving the abuse of innocent children who we should be seeking to protect.

"This abhorrent crime is completely unacceptable, and seems even worse when committed by a police officer who should hold a place of trust and respect in the community.

"There is certainly no place for individuals like this within Gloucestershire Constabulary."

McGoldrick has been bailed with conditions to attend Bristol Crown Court for sentence on September 11.

Bail conditions include to not have contact with anyone under the age of 18 and to reside at a specified address, which is not in Gloucestershire.

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