Police officer sacked after biting woman's breast

A police officer has been dismissed after he was found to have touched and bitten a woman's breast in a pub.

A Cleveland Police misconduct hearing found PC Ian Coverdale's actions breached professional standards and he was sacked without notice.

During the four-day hearing at Scotswood House in Thornaby, Mr Coverdale admitted he had put his head between the victim's breasts but claimed any bite was "accidental".

The misconduct panel found his account to be "untruthful" and his actions in December 2023 were found to have amounted to gross misconduct.

A misconduct proceedings determination report stated that Mr Coverdale's account of the events was "unpersuasive, lacked cogency and in some respects was contradicted by CCTV footage from the public house".

"His account in a number of respects was not capable of belief," it read.

Temporary Supt Karen Naunton, who is also Cleveland Police's head of the directorate of standards and ethics, said Mr Coverdale's behaviour was "totally unacceptable".

"The victim provided very compelling evidence to the panel, and I would like to thank her for coming forward," she said.

"Any officer who does not uphold the standards of behaviour that are expected of them, and brings the police service into disrepute, can expect to be held to account for their actions.

"Where necessary, those officers will also be removed from policing and placed on the barred list."

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