Soham case officer charged with conspiracy

A police liaison officer in the case of murdered British schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman was charged today with conspiracy…

A police liaison officer in the case of murdered British schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman was charged today with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Brian Stevens, who was recently cleared of child sex charges, was charged along with Crown Prosecution Service clerk Ms Louise Austin, West Midlands Police said. The pair were bailed by police.

The detective (42) was cleared on August 20th of charges of indecent assault and possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

Mr Stevens provided personal support to the family of Jessica Chapman after the schoolgirl and her best friend Holly Wells were murdered a year ago in a case that shocked Britain.

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The detective read a poem at Jessica's memorial service.

Earlier this year, a police officer who also worked on the Soham inquiry was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to possessing 330 indecent photographs of children.

Jessica and Holly disappeared from Soham in Cambridgeshire on August 4th last year. Their bodies were found in a ditch 13 days later after a huge police search.

Mr Ian Huntley, a former school caretaker, has been charged with the murders and is due to stand trial in October.