Met Police chief sacked over WhatsApp child abuse video wins job back - appeal says dismissal unfair

A highly-decorated Met Police officer who was convicted over a child abuse video on her mobile phone today won her job back after a decision to dismiss her was overturned.

Supt Robyn Williams was ordered to do 200 hours of community service in 2019 for possessing an indecent video.

Her trial heard she received the video via WhatsApp from her sister Jennifer Hodge, who had been sent the clip by her boyfriend Dido Massivi.

The trial heard that her sister sent it to raise awareness about child abuse and wanted the perpetrators caught, but that Ms Williams never even viewed the video.

The abuse video was sent by the sister to a WhatsApp group of 17 people, one of whom reported it to police.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal rejected the 56-year-old's appeal against the criminal conviction of possession of an indecent video of a child in February.

She was dismissed from the force as a result of the conviction in March 2020.

However, today, a Police Appeals Tribunal gave her back her job on grounds the sacking was unfair and unreasonable.

The independent panel, consisting of a legally qualified chair, a lay person and a serving senior police officer, today found her dismissal from the Metropolitan Police Service to be both ‘unfair’ and ‘unreasonable’ and allowed her appeal against her dismissal.

She was instead, given a final written warning.

Supt Williams said: “I am extremely pleased with today’s outcome and would like to thank the members of the panel for their decision, Gerard Boyle QC for continually fighting my case, and for the countless people within policing and beyond, including representatives of the Police Superintendents’ Association, who have supported me throughout. “For over a year, before and during the pandemic, I have continued to support local people by working within community initiatives. I am therefore delighted to be able to return to the work I love, serving our communities within London.” Police Superintendents’ Association Professional Standards Coordinator Victor Marshall OBE said: “We have continued to support Robyn since the original allegations against her were made.

"We are pleased that today’s panel agreed that her dismissal was unreasonable in light of the complex circumstances surrounding her conviction and we are delighted she will be able to continue to serve the communities of London.”