CHILD abusers in Colchester have been caught by the best new detective in the country.

Temporary Det Con Rachel Moss has won the national award for trainee detective of the year after spending 18 months as part of the north Essex child sex crime team.

Det Con Moss, of Essex Police, took on a large number of child sexual exploitation cases.

Her citation read: “In spite of difficulties, which sometimes involved re-opening previous investigations, she was able to secure numerous convictions.”

These included: n A farmer successfully prosecuted for grooming and sexually assaulting vulnerable young girls he employed n An 11-year prison sentence for a dangerous offender n A conviction and Sexual Harm Prevention Order secured following allegations of one brother abusing his younger brother.

She received the award at the Police Federation’s National Detective Awards in Lincolnshire.

Deputy Chief Constable Matthew Horne said: “This is a wonderful accolade for Rachel at the start of a promising career.

“She has already proved to be a tenacious and diligent investigator who has brought several child abusers to justice.

“Her hard work not only means the victims have been given the chance to be heard but also ensures these people are no longer free to target new victims and ruin more lives.”

Field intelligence officer PC Paul Gerrish, from Essex Police, was shortlisted for an award in the Smarter Detective category for using his exhaustive knowledge of the motor trade to hunt down offenders.

His citation continues: “Using a variety of techniques, including automatic number plate recognition and other data systems, he has been responsible for uncovering vital links to serious and organised crime, a murder investigation and stolen and cloned vehicles.

“PC Gerrish is also heavily in demand by officers from other forces and crime-fighting agencies; he has the rare skill of being able to identify a cloned vehicle solely from the manufacture and fitting of false plates.”

Det Sgt Becky Young and Det Con Alan Lewis were nominated for helping to secure a conviction after Wayne Ingold had acid thrown into his face during a case of mistaken identity in Witham.

Essex Police officers made up 25 per cent of the shortlist for the awards.