A paedophile police officer caught making sexual images of children has escaped a jail term.
Sergeant Darren Dearling was criticised by Scotland Yard chiefs for his "abhorrent" behaviour after admitting 12 counts of making indecent pictures.
The 41-year-old was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.
He was also put on the sex offenders register for seven years and given a two-year supervision order.
Dearling, who has been suspended from duties in the Westminster borough, is now likely to face the sack from his force.
Acting Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, from the Met's child abuse investigation unit, said: "This sends a clear message that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) are totally committed to identifying and prosecuting anyone who possesses or trades indecent images of children.
"Each image or movie represents a child who has been abused and the MPS will continue to work tirelessly to bring anyone who is in any way involved in the abuse of children to justice."
Dearling was caught when officers raided his home and seized his computer equipment.
Commander Peter Spindler, of the force's directorate of professional standards, said: "Criminal behaviour of this abhorrent nature by any of our employees will be dealt with swiftly and firmly. Now the judicial process has concluded, we will be convening a gross misconduct hearing against this officer, who is a discredit to himself and the service."