A Norfolk police inspector who quit the force has admitted sending “grossly offensive” obscene messages.

Jon Papworth resigned after being charged with two counts of improper use of a public telecommunications network.

The 46-year-old was a police inspector based in south Norfolk when the alleged offences took place.

Appearing at Norwich Magistrates Court on Tuesday he pleaded guilty to both charges, which relate to 10 “indecent and obscene” messages sent in 2021 between February 14 and April 23.

Eastern Daily Press: Jon Papworth, formerly part of Dereham safer neighbourhood team, was working in south Norfolk when his offending took placeJon Papworth, formerly part of Dereham safer neighbourhood team, was working in south Norfolk when his offending took place (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Prosecuting, Paul Brown said: "The aggravating feature is that the defendant was a police officer and had been for 22 years and was an inspector in the police.

"There is quite extreme public interest with regards to this sort of matter because of other cases in the news."

District Judge Elizabeth Hart was told Papworth's offences were exposed as part of an ongoing police investigation.

“In this case there isn’t a vulnerable victim as such. It is talking to a police officer who was carrying out an investigation,” said Mr Brown. 

“However if there were a victim it would be a case of greater harm and there would be substantial distress caused to that particular victim given the nature of this offence.”

Eastern Daily Press: Jon Papworth will be sentenced at Norwich Magistrates Court in AprilJon Papworth will be sentenced at Norwich Magistrates Court in April (Image: Newsquest)

The former officer, who lives in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, was told the offences meet the custody threshold.

Shade Abiodun, defending, said: “This is lower capability matter in terms of harm but I have to concede that when one looks at other statutory and aggravating matters, there is an abuse of trust given the position the defendant was in at the time.”

Papworth, who previously worked as part of the safer neighbourhood team in Dereham, was released on bail until a sentencing hearing at Norwich Magistrates Court on April 28. 

Judge Hart ordered that he be made the subject of an interim sexual harm prevention order until the sentencing.