Taunton Police Officer Charged With Sex-Messaging 15 Year-old Girl

Court Date: Burton

A police officer appeared in court for the first time yesterday charged with sexually-explicit communication with a 15 year-old girl.

Scott Burton, 45, of Fitzhead, Taunton, Somerset indicated a not guilty plea and elected Crown Court trial.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court before a special sitting of District Judge Michael Snow, who bailed him to appear at Exeter Crown Court on May 10.

Burton, who unsuccessfully applied, via his legal representative, not to give his home address in open court, was ordered not to contact the complainant as a condition of bail.

He is charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child between January 1 and March 31, 2020 in Taunton, with intent to encourage the girl to make a communication that was sexual.

The court was told Burton was sending “inappropriate messages” with a sexual context to the girl, who was 15 years-old at the time.