Sexual assaults police officer avoids prison

A“Each of the complainers... were not only work colleagues but also friends

police sergeant who admitted sexually assaulting five female colleagues has avoided jail and must do unpaid work instead.

Ross Campbell previously pled guilty to touching and groping the women between September 2019 and February 2020.

He committed the crimes during nights out in Aberdeen and Dundee. His 17-year career is over. Campbell, 44, of Cove Close, Cove, was placed on the sex offenders register for 18 months by Sheriff Graham Buchanan.

Sentencing Campbell to a community payback order with supervision, the sheriff told him: “These offences were thoroughly unpleasant and upsetting for your victims.

“If you were drunk when you committed them, then that is no excuse.

“It seems that you are remorseful and regret what you did and, of course, you tendered pleas of guilty, which avoided the need for a trial.”

He noted Campbell had no previous convictions and a “favourable” social work report found him to be a “low risk” of reoffending.

He explained: “The maximum prison sentence that could be imposed in this case is 12 months but I have to be aware of the statutory provisions in selecting an appropriate sentence in your case.

“I have concluded that it is possible to deal with you by way of a disposal that is a direct alternative to a sentence of imprisonment.”

He told Campbell he must carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

Defence advocate Gareth Jones said his client “takes full responsibility for his behaviour” and “continues to stress remorse and contrition”.

He added: “It is noted by the author of this criminal justice social work report that he is ashamed, sickened and embarrassed by his behaviour.

“And importantly, it is assessed that his remorse is entirely genuine.”

Mr Jones pointed out that the report noted his client showed a “high degree of victim empathy”.

He said: “The reality is that each of the complainers in this case were not only work colleagues but also friends of Mr Campbell at the time.

“There was a reluctance on the part of each of them for this matter to be prosecuted but one incident was reported and momentum quickly gathered and proceedings took place.”

Aberdeen Sheriff Court previously heard Campbell was witnessed behaving badly on various occasions, while laughing, and his behaviour was challenged by a female co-worker.

A male colleague even sent Campbell a WhatsApp message to warn him against being “a bit handsy”.

Campbell replied: “I was pretty wasted and I shouldn’t have put myself in that position.”

All of his victims attended court to hear Campbell own up to what he had done to them.

They heard his defence advocate Mr Jones offer on his behalf an “unreserved apology to all the complainers in this case”.

The court had heard Campbell repeatedly grabbed women on their buttocks and private parts.

He laughed as he slapped the buttocks of one woman at Club Tropicana nightclub in Aberdeen on September 15 2019.

On December 5 2019, another two female officers were sexually assaulted by Campbell during a night out at Siberia Bar and Hotel on Belmont Street in Aberdeen.

Fiscal depute Alan Townsend said one woman felt Campbell touching her back before he told her “you’d be up for anything wouldn’t you?”

He later came up behind the woman and grabbed her bottom without consent.

Another female officer felt an ice cube being placed down the front of her blouse.

A few nights later, at the Counting House pub in Dundee, Campbell grabbed the buttocks of another female officer five times.

He also grabbed her bottom on a train back to Aberdeen.

At Soul Bar and Paramount Bar in Aberdeen on February 8 2020, Campbell ran his hand up a female co-worker’s thigh and touched her private parts through her clothing.

He later attempted to force his thumb inside the waistband of the woman’s underwear.

When the former temporary sergeant was first arrested, he denied any wrongdoing against his co-workers and was released.

After a previous court appearance, Campbell went to great lengths to avoid his photograph being taken when he came out of Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

He changed his clothes inside the building after his hearing and exited with his face hidden under a face mask and hooded top.

But he was captured on camera after he left his home and was spotted outside Boots in the Garthdee area of Aberdeen.

The demoted officer was facing disciplinary proceedings after the matter was referred to the deputy chief constable for professionalism, for consideration under the Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014.

Campbell’s lawyer told the court that he has voluntarily left his job.

Mr Jones said: “He was a serving police officer for the best part of 17 years without incident – his behaviour has cost him his job.

“He advises me that he tendered his resignation yesterday, in recognition that it is no longer tenable for him to serve as a police officer.”

REMORSEFUL: Ross Campbell took full responsibility for his behaviour.