Police officers guilty of sex assault spared jail

Two Metropolitan Police officers who sexually assaulted a woman at a central London casino while ignoring her pleas for them to stop were given suspended sentences by a court on Monday.

Jerome Beasley, 43, and Luke Robinson, 40, repeatedly touched the woman's breasts in clear view of others, Southwark Crown Court heard.

The assault took place in a rooftop bar at the Hippodrome Casino close to Leicester Square while the officers were off duty, during the early hours of 22 April 2024.

Judge Mark Weekes handed Robinson a 15-month jail sentence and Beasley an 18-month sentence, both suspended for two years.

Beasley, of North Harrow, north-west London, and Robinson, of Northampton, were also each ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

An overnight curfew was also imposed on both men for five months.

They were each given a five-year restraining order, told to pay £750 compensation to the victim and £150 in costs.

The pair were sacked from the Met's Central West Command Unit after admitting their assault.

Beasley, who was charged with four counts of sexual assault and Robinson, who was charged with three counts of the same offence, changed their pleas to guilty in the days leading up to their trial.

CCTV footage showed Beasley and Robinson repeatedly approaching the woman and touching her breasts.

Weekes said: "Your behaviour was of itself obviously offensive to all right-thinking people.

"There is, rightly, grave public concern at present concerning conduct of officers of the Metropolitan Police.

"The public is entitled to expect much better.

"Your actions not only shame yourselves directly, but cause embarrassment and frustration for the vast majority of those serving who do uphold the high standards of behaviour that the public expect from the police."

In a statement from the force, Det Ch Supt Christina Jessah described the pair's behaviour as "inexcusable", adding that it was right that they were "held responsible for their actions".

"There is no room in the Met – or in any workplace – for those who think acting in this way is acceptable.

"We know behaviour like this seriously undermines public trust and confidence in the Met, which is why we are continuing our work to relentlessly pursue and remove those staff who fail to meet our standards," she said.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]