Police officer jailed for on-duty sex assaults

A police officer has been jailed for 18 months for sexual assaults on two colleagues while on duty.

Greater Manchester Police Det Sgt Richard Mills, 42, was found guilty of assaulting the women on two separate occasions over the past 10 years.

Sentencing him at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, Judge David Swinnerton said Mills had been "enabled" and "emboldened" by a culture of "you don't report bobbies" that existed among the lower ranks of the force.

Hunter Gray, defending, said Mills continued to deny the offences, but that he had shown insight into his previous behaviour and was no longer "the tactile person he was".

The court heard the father-of-two had said there had ben "sexualised banter" from a number of people in the office.

His first victim said he put her hand on his crotch after telling her about what kind of sex he liked, and saying he was not "getting it" from his wife.

The second complainant said she "froze" when Mills put her hand onto his crotch while in a room with other people.

The judge said the fact Mills felt enabled to do it in the presence of other people, believing they would not say anything, "added to her sense of shame and embarassment".

Judge Swinnerton said the women had had their "mental health, careers and their lives blighted" by what Mills had done.

In a statement read by Robert Dudley, one of the victims said: "How do you call the police about the police?"

She added: "I used to be such a happy, smiley and bubbly character and I feel the complete opposite. I just feel sad all the time."

Hunter Gray, defending, said Mills now appreciated that "what he thought was acceptable banter at the time was unacceptable, particularly in the modern environment" and that he would "change his approach".

"It is extremely humiliating not just for him but for those close to him, including his wife," he said.

Mills was cleared of three other counts of sexual assault following his trial.

Greater Manchester Police said gross misconduct proceedings would take place.

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