Former country police officer Robert Charles Warland, 72, pleads guilty to procuring child for sex

A former country police officer who spent his entire career in law enforcement has confessed to communicating with a child to procure them for sex.

A former country police officer has admitted to communicating with a child with the intention of procuring them for sexual activity - after previously asking to withdraw his guilty plea to an almost identical charge.

Hiding his face from the media, Robert Charles Warland was silent as he left the South Australian District Court on Thursday morning, charged with child sexual offending.

In February, Warland, 72, pleaded guilty to having communicated with a child under 17 to make them amenable to sex.

However, in August, he applied to the court to have that guilty plea withdrawn, which prosecutors conceded to on Thursday morning.

Retired senior Riverland police officer Robert Warland has pleaded guilty. Picture: Supplied

Warland had a lengthy career as a police officer. Picture: Supplied

Patrick Hill, for Warland, then told Judge Michelle Sutcliffe his client would be pleading guilty to the alternate - and almost identical - charge of communicating with the intention of procuring a child for sexual activity.

The court heard Warland committed the offence by communicating with the child under 17 – whose identity is suppressed by law – between May 16 and 20, 2022 in Berri and other places.

Warland covers his face as he leaves court after an earlier appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Warland served as a police officer in the Riverland and Murraylands for decades and, upon being charged, sought to have suppression orders imposed upon his identity.

His lawyers argued publication of his case would impact his son’s employment and “cause unnecessary hardship” to him, as well as a “detrimental effect” to Warland’s wife.

Granted an interim suppression order, Warland opted not to pursue it at his next court hearing and his case was publicised.

Mr Hill on Thursday tendered two expert reports - one each from a psychologist and a therapist - to support his client.

Judge Sutcliffe adjourned the matter for sentencing submissions to be made in November.

Outside court, Warland declined to comment on why he committed the offences after a lifetime career in law enforcement.

Originally published as Former country police officer Robert Charles Warland, 72, pleads guilty to procuring child for sex