Police Inspector Convicted of Making Indecent Images of Children

Inspector Lee Bartram.

A paedophile police officer has pleaded guilty to five counts of making indecent images of children.

Inspector Lee Bartram, 44, of West Midlands Police, pleaded guilty to the charges during his appearance in custody at Walsall Magistrates' Court yesterday morning. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing indecent images of children.

Four of the counts relate to making and distributing category C and B images on 15th May this year. Three of the charges relate to the making images between 15th August 2013 and 15th August this year. It is understood that Bartram produced 8 category A images, 8 category B images and 290 category C images on his iPhone and iPad. Category A images are the most extreme. Bartram's youngest victim was a boy aged just 6 years old.

Normally the defendant's name, date of birth, nationality and home address are confirmed in open court prior to the charges being put to them. In this instance the Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Gareth Cann, wrote to the District Judge hearing the case, Graham Wilkinson, requesting that Bartram's address be withheld from public disclosure.

Attracting much criticism, Judge Wilkinson agreed to that request on the basis that releasing Bartram's address could lead to the Birmingham-based officer or his family being 'targeted by terrorists for the most serious acts of violence'.

Opening the facts of the case, prosecutor Mark Cooper said some of the films made by Bartram had a "commentary" from the officer "as to what he would like to do" with the children. On one of the films, Bartram was recorded "blaming the parents" of a child because of the way the youngster was dressed.

Offences of this nature are so serious that they can only be dealt with in the Crown Court.

Judge Wilkinson said: "I have no option but to remand you in custody, the prison service is adept at protecting the vulnerable prisoners and we know this is a serious matter.

"It will be flagged up that you are not placed on an open wing and treated as the most vulnerable sort of prisoner.

"You will also be required to be on the Sex Offenders Register."

Update: This morning Bartram made a bail application to a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

On this occasion His Honour Judge James Burbidge QC, the Honorary Recorder of Wolverhampton, granted Bartram bail on the condition that he does not access the internet.

Significantly, the judge also decided to lift the reporting restrictions imposed in the Magistrates' Court earlier, telling the court: "I do not believe there is an objective and well founded, heightened risk to his life as a result of these proceedings and him being a police officer.

"There has to be a good reason to make an order prohibiting open reporting."

Bartram, of Bustleholme Lane, West Bromwich, will appear for sentencing on 13th September 2018.