Police spend £400k to axe top officer who groped women staff

A POLICE force has spent around £400,000 on sacking a senior officer for groping women colleagues.

Chief Inspector Mark Anastasi, 49, was initially dismissed for gross misconduct three years ago after complaints of ‘inappropriate’ behaviour.

He was accused of putting his hand inside a police employee’s blouse to touch her breast while she was on the phone and rubbing the thigh of another worker who he also allegedly told: ‘I want to make love to you.’

Anastasi (pictured) successfully overturned his sacking from Northumbria Police by persuading the High Court he had not been given a fair chance to contest the claims. He was on leave on full pay until another disciplinary hearing could be held – and has now lost his job again.

The second disciplinary hearing in Newcastle heard evidence from a police worker. She said: ‘We would be talking in meetings and he would sometimes stare. Looking lovingly into my eyes, almost.

‘On one particular occasion he put his hand on my thigh and started to rub it upwards. I brushed his hand off and asked him what he was doing. I did not welcome it at all.’

The second victim said he touched her breast as she spoke on the phone.

Anastasi later sent her a text: ‘Apologies for before. Will be a good boy on my return. I forget you’re not allowed feelings.’

He denied three allegations of inappropriate conduct, including allegations of unwanted sexual touching. Legal fees for the case and the cost of Anastasi’s salary when he was not allowed to work are believed to total around £400,000. He was accused of touching the women between February 2012 and June 2013.

Last year Northumbria Police chiefs were the subject of embarrassing headlines when an employment tribunal heard claims that ex-Chief Constable Mike Craik was punched by another senior officer, Jim Peacock, over Mr Craik’s fling with his wife, Assistant Chief Constable Caroline Peacock. The claims were denied.