A serving Met officer has pleaded guilty to child sexual offences following an investigation by Specialist Crime detectives
PC Hussain Chehab, aged 22, attached to North Area Command Unit, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday, 24 January to:
– Four counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15; these took place between 1 March 2019 and September 2019 and pre-dated his service in the Met.
– Three counts of making indecent photographs of a child;
– One count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
No verdict was recorded in a further four counts of making indecent photographs of a child and so the Judge ordered they be left to lie on file.
Chehab was released on bail for sentencing at the same court on Friday, 17 March.
Following his guilty plea an accelerated misconduct process has been initiated and will be held as quickly as possible.
Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, lead for policing in Enfield where PC Chehab served, said: “Our thoughts foremost today are with the young girls who Chehab exploited and took advantage of for his own sexual gratification.
“These offences are made all the more sickening by the fact that some of the image offences were committed while PC Chehab was in a role as a Safer Schools officer attached to a secondary school in Enfield between May 2021 and his arrest in August 2021.
“Once the initial allegations against PC Chehab were made, he was immediately removed from his role while the investigation took place. We have worked closely with the school concerned, and Enfield local authority, to ensure that there were no further unreported safeguarding incidents or missed opportunities.
“A review of the information provided to the Met prior to him joining as a police officer was carried out and nothing was found that could have indicated his offending.
“Prior to commencing his role as a Safer Schools Officer he was also subject to further Child and Vulnerable Group Supervision vetting, in line with the current vetting standards for all those who work with children and young persons.
“This news will of course cause considerable damage and concern, not only to the local community, but Londoners as a whole, who place their trust in police officers to go into our schools alongside their children every day and keep them safe.
“While no evidence has been found linking any of Chehab’s offending to his role, we are engaging with our local schools, community forums and independent advisory groups to reassure them following the damage his actions will have caused.
“The Met continues to ruthlessly target those who corrupt our identity. We have made it clear there is no place for the likes of PC Chehab in the Met and will take quick and immediate action to arrest and prosecute anyone who commits such abhorrent criminal acts, and will work to quickly remove them from the organisation.”
PC Chehab joined the Met on 30 March 2020.
His offending came to light in July 2021 when the family of a 16-year-old girl called police to raise concerns about the fact she had recently been in a relationship with PC Chehab, which they believed began when she was 15 years old.
He was arrested on 24 August 2021 during which time a number of digital devices were seized.
He was placed on restricted duties, which ordered him to work within the confines of a police building in a non public-facing role and to have no contact with schools or children.
When his devices were examined, a number of indecent images were found and he was further arrested on 28 October, when he was also suspended from duty.
Analysis of further devices also revealed messages between PC Chehab and a 14-year-old girl engaging in sexual communication. She later provided evidence to police that they had entered into a sexual relationship in 2019 when she was just 14.
On Tuesday, 13 September 2022, he was charged with the above offences.
Anyone with any information about a police officer or member of staff who works for the Met and is corrupt, abusing their position and power, can call the Anti-Corruption and Abuse Hotline, run by Independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 085 0000 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-org.uk
Featured image credit: Met Police
