Ryan Connolly, 37, took a picture of himself lying in a field while he was supposed to be working on a cordon at the scene of a fatal attack on Danny Gee-Jamieson in 2018
Image: Liverpool Echo)
A disgraced police officer who had ‘extreme’ pornography on his phone could face a new prosecution after it was revealed he took a selfie at a murder scene.
Ryan Connolly, formerly of the Merseyside Police, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of extreme pornographic images in November and was due to be sentenced on Monday.
However, sentencing was adjourned and a new hearing is due to take place in January.
It comes after an internal investigation by Merseyside Police’s anti-corruption unit revealed Connolly took a ‘selfie’ at a murder scene and sent racist and homophobic messages.
He resigned ahead of a police misconduct hearing which took place between November 15 and 18 and ruled Connolly would have been sacked had he still been a serving officer.
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Image:
Liverpool Echo)
Manchester Crown Court heard on Monday that Connolly, 37, of Court Hey Road in Huyton, could now face criminal allegations as a result of that inquiry.
Henry Riding, prosecuting, said: “As recently as Friday the police have submitted a report but not a file for the Crown Prosecution Service asking them to consider the possibility of criminal proceedings arising out of the material that formed the basis of that gross misconduct hearing.”
Connolly spoke only to confirm his name in court on Monday, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Judge Anthony Cross, QC, adjourned the case until January 27.
As a result of the police misconduct hearing last year Connolly was barred from working for the police again.
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Image:
Liverpool Echo)
It followed an internal investigation revealing a series of disciplinary breaches.
Connolly had taken a picture of himself lying in a field while he was supposed to be working on a cordon at the scene of a fatal attack on Danny Gee-Jamieson in July 2018.
The 16-year-old was stabbed at The Nook in Gateacre, leading to the launch of a murder investigation.
A teenage boy was later locked up for manslaughter.
Mr Gee-Jamieson’s mum, Mandy Jamieson, told the Liverpool Echo: “I just feel like Connolly has made a mockery of my son’s death. Like it was all a big joke.”
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Connolly also photographed people detained under the Mental Health Act and while they were being observed in hospital and his personal mobile phone was found to contain depraved images including content that was racist and homophobic.
He was also found to have associated with a “known criminal” and had failed to disclose the relationship to bosses.
Following the hearing, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley said: “An investigation by our Anti-Corruption Unit uncovered the fact that Connolly had been using his own phone to take photographs of vulnerable people whilst on duty and that the phone also contained appalling homophobic, racist and offensive images.
“It also revealed that Connolly was an associate of a known criminal and had not declared this association.
“His actions are an insult to the uniform and the police service, which consistently strives to protect our communities and provide a professional and inclusive service to the people of Merseyside.”
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