I’m at Old Bailey for sentencing of Met Police Superintendent Robyn Williams - found guilty last week of possessing an indecent image, a 52-second child abuse video sent to her on WhatsApp by her sister, Jennifer Hodge. She and her partner, Dido Massivi, also convicted.
Prosecution barrister Richard Wright QC says Williams’ position as a police officer is a “serious aggravating factor” in determining the appropriate sentence
Judge says he’s considering imposing an unpaid work order but asks probation to speak to Williams, Hodge and Massivi first to establish whether they’re prepared and able to do that, so we have a short pause in proceedings.
3 probation officers tell the court that Williams, Hodge and Massivi are all able to do unpaid work and do not require any other probation intervention.
Barrister Lefi Tsiattalou, for Massivi, says he “feels responsible for ruining his sister-in-law’s career”, ie Robyn Williams. Massivi was sacked from his job as a bus driver & is said to be “very remorseful” for his “foolishness & serious errors of judgment”
Andrea Brown, for Hodge, says the incident has “destroyed her relationship” with her sister, Supt Williams, her only immediate family member. Hodge also lost her job looking after vulnerable adults. Brown points out Hodge was unaware she should have deleted the indecent video
Anesta Weekes QC, for Williams, points out the police officer didn’t ask for image to be sent & according to two experts never clicked on the video to play it. She questions whether CPS would have charged her had the expert evidence been available earlier...
Judge Richard Marks QC replies “we are where we are”. He says Williams is “highly unlikely to retain her job” after her conviction. Independent Office for Police Conduct is resuming misconduct inquiry now. Weekes says she has lost her status as officer with a “stellar” career
Judge Marks sentences Massivi to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years together with 200 hours of unpaid work. It’s the “terrible damage to children...that constitutes the gravity of this offending” he says...
Marks says Hodge, Williams’ sister, acted in sending the images to 17 people “for the best of motives but was a serious error of judgment”. He sentences her to 100 hours of unpaid work. ...
Judge says Robyn Williams made a “grave error of judgment” in not reporting video. He says after her “stellar career..it is a complete tragedy that you find yourself in the position you now do”. He says conviction will have “immense consequences”. Sentence: 200 hours unpaid work
Supt Williams is now subject to sex offenders’ register notification requirements for 5 years, along with Hodge. Massivi - 10 years on the register.
