A WIFE was shocked to find a video of her special constable husband sexually abusing a young girl, a judge at Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Julie Lingham, also a special officer, was planning to divorce him and made the discovery when she broke into his locked briefcase to search for financial information.

She immediately reported him to the police and handed over the incriminating video tape, the court heard. Paul Lingham, 36, of Wouldham, near Rochester, was jailed for four years after he admitted indecent assault and making indecent photos of children.

John Price, prosecuting, said the assault came to light earlier this year “in the most unusual of circumstances”.

The couple married in September 2001 but within a few months the relationship soured and they frequently argued. Mrs Lingham decided on a divorce and searched their home for financial information. She found the tape and played it.

Mr Price said there was pornography from the television but then film of Lingham making love to an unknown woman. However, after about 35 minutes, the picture changed and to her horror she saw her husband indecently assaulting a girl.

“As you can imagine, the discovery of this item in her husband’s briefcase came as a profound shock,” Mr Price told Judge Michael Neligan. “She immediately called the police.”

After Lingham was arrested on January 22 it was discovered that his computer had been used to view indecent images of children on the internet.

Mr Price said there was no evidence that he had subscribed to such sites or that he had downloaded the photos.

Lingham, who was a support worker for officers at Maidstone Prison, admitted the assault to police and also searching for paedophile material of girls on the internet.

John Burrow, defending, said Lingham had pursued “socially useful careers”. His full time job for five years had been providing support for prison officers.

He added: “He can give no explanation for the indecent assault,” he said. “The offences occurred at a time of great emotional turmoil. The relationship had deteriorated and it put him under great stress and caused depression.

“He has already suffered considerably. His worthwhile career has ended. Prison will be particularly unpleasant because of his previous occupation.”

Mr Burrow said Lingham intended to join a sex offenders’ programme while serving his sentence.

Ordering Lingham to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, Judge Neligan told him: “I take into account your previous good character. I take into account especially your service as a special constable, which is, of course, to the community at large.”

Lingham was sentenced to four years for the indecent assault and three years concurrent for the two offences of making indecent photos.

The judge also ordered that he would be banned from working with children in future.