Police officer ‘thought it would be funny’ to lift colleague’s skirt

AGWENT Police officer sexually assaulted a colleague at a party, a misconduct hearing has found.

Chief constable Pam Kelly said PC Benjamin French would have been sacked had he not resigned.

The victim chose not to make a criminal complaint.

PC French, who quit the force one day before Tuesday’s hearing, was accused of sexually assaulting an officer while off-duty at a social event by lifting her skirt and grabbing her bottom. Ms Kelly said PC French admitted the allegation. He claimed he could not “really remember” the grab but accepted the victim’s description of what he did.

“He states there was no sexual motivation and believes that he did it as a joke,” Ms Kelly added.

“He thought it would be funny when clearly it is not. He states that alcohol played a significant part in his behaviour. There is supporting evidence that his actions were out of character.”

The chief constable continued: “In terms of mitigation I am mindful that misconduct was confined to a single episode of brief duration. There is clear evidence of genuine remorse and insight by former PC French. He has expressed his apologies to [the victim]. He has also taken responsibility for his actions. I give him credit for these matters.”

But she found his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, adding: “The conduct is intentional, deliberate, and targeted. The former officer has failed to act with self-control and tolerance and has not treated a female police officer colleague with respect or courtesy.

“Former PC French’s actions have brought discredit on the police service and are capable of undermining the confidence of the public in policing.

“In my view this behaviour falls far below the standard expected not just of an officer but anyone in society.

“An officer’s behaviour needs to be to the highest of standards and this behaviour was totally unacceptable.”

PC French was placed on the police barred list. A Gwent Police spokesman said: “[The victim] was offered the opportunity to make a criminal complaint by the professional standards department but chose not to, leaving a misconduct hearing as the only option available.”

It comes after the force came under severe scrutiny last November over texts between officers which sparked allegations of a misogynistic, racist, and homophobic culture.

Three officers were suspended and

Wiltshire Police launched an independent investigation into Gwent Police over the messages exposed by the Sunday Times.

Last year also saw a panel find there was misconduct by former Gwent Police chief superintendent Mark Warrender involving “inappropriate touching”. And former chief superintendent Marc Budden and ex-chief inspector Paul Staniforth were found to have held an “inappropriate conversation” with a more junior colleague.

Both Budden and Warrender were suspended on full pay from the summer of 2019 and went on to receive an estimated combined gross total of at least £500,000.