Policewoman was sexually abused in class, hearing told

A TRAINEE police officer allegedly sexually assaulted a female colleague in front of a self-defence class, a disciplinary hearing has been told.

The female officer shouted for him to stop when he thrust his groin against her, but colleagues failed to intervene because they thought it was part of the role play. The constable, who cannot be identified, had already subjected her and two other female officers to a barrage of “sexist, sexual and misogynistic” comments, the hearing was told.

While still undergoing his basic training he was accused of gross misconduct, but denies the allegations, claiming there was a “campaign of falsehood” against him. His alleged victim, who is in her early twenties, sobbed as she told a police disciplinary panel in Stockton-on-tees about the incident.

She said: “It was a self-defence course and there was an exercise in which I had to bend over whilst being attacked by other members of my cohort who were wearing foam pads on their hands.

“I had to cover my head and bend over, but shortly after adopting that position I felt from behind me his groin pushing towards my bottom.

“Because of the scenario I was in, I was supposed to be vocal and to shout. I remember after feeling that, I just wanted it to stop. I was shouting ‘stop’ but they thought I was just engaging in the task and he would not stop.”

The panel was also told that three female officers raised 17 complaints against him within six weeks of him beginning training in September 2020.

Stephen Morley, representing Cleveland Police, said: “He had just joined this organisation and was working with another group of young people who all wanted to be police officers. About half this group were female and about half of those were unhappy... because this officer kept making things sexual.”

The hearing – which will determine whether the officer should be sacked for gross misconduct – continues.