A firefighter who paid children to send him naked pictures of themselves has been jailed for seven years.
Robert Stevenson, 31, previously of Long Eaton in Derbyshire, “trawled through social media” offering girls money for explicit images while working for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Detectives said Stevenson had been talking to children “in a sexual manner right across the country”.
He was found guilty following a trial at Derby Crown Court and ordered to sign the sex offenders register as part of his sentencing on Friday.
Stevenson sent a photo of himself in his work uniform to one of his victims, claiming to be 19, Derbyshire Police said.
An investigation was launched when one of his victims, a 15-year-old girl, told police officers Stevenson threatened to post an explicit image of her online.
Police said he had spoken to the victim on Instagram, asking her if “she wanted to make £100”.
The conversation moved to Snapchat with Stevenson telling her he was 17 after she told him she was 17, the force added.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed Stevenson was employed with them from June 2018 until November 2019, when he was suspended pending a police investigation.
A formal dismissal hearing was arranged for June 2020, but Stevenson submitted his resignation from May 2020 while he was still under investigation.
A spokesperson for the fire service said: “All employees with a public-facing role are now subject to enhanced DBS checks and are trusted within the communities we serve.
“Former firefighter Robert Stevenson breached the trust of our communities by committing the significant offences for which he has now been sentenced.”