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A former police officer has admitted child sex offences.
Zachary Haile, 27, who served with West Yorkshire Police in Leeds, admitted possessing indecent images of a child and sexually communicating with a child.
He admitted the offences at Leeds Magistrates’ Court and will be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on November 10.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: "Clearly any suggestion that a police officer has been linked to offences involving children is treated with the utmost seriousness.
"We took immediate action to arrest and suspend Haile.
"He had actually only joined West Yorkshire Police two months before his arrest and was therefore very new in service when he was removed from duty."
Haile was arrested on July 25, 2022, after officers linked him to a social media account that had received an indecent image of a child.
Police seized several mobile phones and found more indecent images, along with sexually explicit conversations with a child.
Haile was suspended immediately and resigned during the investigation.
A misconduct hearing in January 2025 found he would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned.
He was later added to the College of Policing’s Barred List.
Det Ch Supt Wilkins said: "It is clear that he is not fit to wear the uniform."
The alleged offences took place while Haile was off duty in 2022.