Ex-police officers charged with child sex offences

Two retired police officers have been charged with child sex offences dating back to the 1990s.

West Yorkshire Police said two of its former officers each faced charges of rape and indecent assault against a girl aged under 16, with the alleged offences committed between 1992 and 1995.

William Baker, 78, of Hayle in Cornwall, and Ian Hopkinson, 63, of Redcar in Cleveland, would face Leeds Magistrates' Court on 7 May, the force said.

The pair were arrested in June 2024 after a woman came forward the previous year to report the offences which were alleged to have taken place in West Yorkshire while they were serving officers.

Both men were working at the time in the Mounted Section, then based in Pontefract, where Mr Baker held the rank of sergeant and Mr Hopkinson was a constable, the force said.

Mr Baker is charged with three counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years and two counts of rape of a female under 16 years.

Mr Hopkinson is charged with five counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years and five counts of rape of a female under 16 years.

A third former West Yorkshire Police officer was also arrested over the allegations, but has since died, with the force adding that "it was determined there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death".

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