Tri-Service

Police Appeal After RAF Serviceman Charged Over Child Porn

A Royal Air Force Serviceman, Corporal Roger Heal, has been charged for the alleged possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

Heal, whose age has not been released, was serving at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire at the time of his arrest. He has been remanded into custody.

The arrest followed an investigation by a dedicated Royal Air Force Police sexual offences and child abuse investigation team.

Corporal Roger Heal was due to attend an internal pre-court martial hearing, at Colchester Military Corrective Training Centre this morning. It is understood that the hearing is somewhat similar to a Magistrate’s court initial hearing.

The charges, of alleged possession and distribution of indecent images of children, would have been read out and his details confirmed. It’s not known whether any plea will have been entered by the accused.

The RAF Police have issued an appeal in connection to this arrest. Investigators believe that the serviceman has had contact with children through his voluntary work for youth organisations, including the Scouts, Air Cadets and civilian football and cricket clubs, predominantly in the areas of London, Thames Valley, Cheshire and Northumbria, between 2001 and 2014.

The RAF Police appeal continues by saying that the MOD is committed to supporting the safeguarding of children, or any other individual, who may have been affected by Corporal Heal or any other serviceperson, no matter where or when any alleged incident took place.

An RAF Spokesperson said that this had been “a long and detailed investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further while legal proceedings are on-going”