Two police officers involved in the Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells murder inquiry appeared in court in Suffolk to face child pornography charges.

TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN COURT ON PORN CHARGES

By Tania Cocksedge, PA News

Two police officers involved in the Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells murder inquiry appeared in court in Suffolk to face child pornography charges.

Detective Constable Brian Stevens, 41, and Pc Antony Goodridge, 34, attended a plea and direction hearing at Ipswich Crown Court.

Stevens pleaded not guilty to five counts of possessing an indecent photograph of a child between January 1 2002 and September 13 2002.

He pleaded not guilty to three charges of distributing an indecent photograph of a child between the same dates.

Stevens also denied three charges of indecent assault on two females under 16 between October 1998 and October 2001.

He was a police family liaison officer appointed to the family of Jessica Chapman during the investigation into the disappearance and murder of the 10-year-old friends from Soham, Cambs.

The officer was released on conditional bail and the case was adjourned for three weeks.

Goodridge pleaded guilty to the possession of 330 indecent photographs of children on September 12 2002.

He pleaded not guilty to the distribution of an indecent photo of a child between June 2002 and September 2002 and also denied possession with a view to the distribution of an indecent photo of a child between the same dates.

Prosecutor Andrew Campbell-Tiech said the prosecution offered no evidence on these two charges.

The court heard sentencing would be adjourned until March 28 for pre-sentence report and a psychiatric report to be prepared.

Goodridge's conditional bail was extended until the hearing.

Judge John Holt said Goodridge should be aware that all sentencing options remained open.

Goodridge was an exhibits officer during the Soham investigation.