Former Leeds police officer admits to possessing indecent images of children
The 27-year-old was arrested while working as a police officer
A former West Yorkshire Police officer has admitted possessing indecent images of children and sending sexualised messages to a child.
Zachary Haile, who worked in the Leeds District, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (October 21) at Leeds Magistrates’ Court to three counts of possessing indecent photographs of a child and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
The 27-year-old was arrested on July 25, 2022, after a police investigation linked him to a social media account which had received an indecent image of a child.
His devices were seized and further indecent images were found on a number of mobile phones.
There was also evidence of conversations with a child on social media which were of a sexualised nature, West Yorkshire Police have said.
Haile, who was a student officer, was suspended from duty after he was arrested.
He resigned from the force while under investigation and was subject to a misconduct hearing in January 2025, where he was found to have committed gross misconduct and added to the College of Policing’s Barred List.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, Head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Clearly any suggestion that a police officer has been linked to offences involving children is treated with the utmost seriousness.
“We took immediate action to arrest and suspend Haile. He had actually only joined West Yorkshire Police two months before his arrest and was therefore very new in service when he was removed from duty.
“A misconduct hearing was held while Haile was still under investigation for these criminal matters and it was found that he would have been dismissed had he not already resigned. It is clear that he is not fit to wear the uniform.”
Haile is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on November 10 for sentencing.