A police officer was sacked after a number of sexual misconduct allegations, including groping colleagues' bottoms and calling a co-worker "Boobs Magee".
PC James Sarson, who worked for Cheshire Police, was dismissed by the force due to his "serious and repeated" behaviour. The incidents occurred when the police officer was off duty on two separate nights out with colleagues.
In a misconduct report published on Thursday following a hearing in December, it states his conduct was "not premediated" but rather "opportunistic". PC Sarson, who was described as a "bedroom gamer" and had a lack of social circle in the report, told the panel alcohol had an adverse effect on him and due to not liking the taste "drinks it very quickly" which he described as binge drinking.
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The panel accepted his evidence that he was "very intoxicated", but did not believe he was drunk to a level where he had become unaware of how to conduct himself or would have no memory of the events. The first string of incidents happened on a night out in Nantwich in August 19 and 20, 2021.
PC Sarson slapped the bottom of a fellow officer, named Officer A in the report, without her consent as he and his colleagues walked from the Boot and Shoe pub to the Cheshire Cat pub in Nantwich on an off-duty night out. The report found the contact with his colleague was "sexual" and "opportunistic" rather than "predatory" and that he had agreed that he was "trying it on with the girls".
A second incident at a different pub found PC Sarson placed the flat of his hand on the bum cheek of Officer B without her consent. The officer said she was shocked and angry when this happened and immediately challenged PC Sarson and said to him “do that again and see what happens”.
A third allegation refers to an incident which occurred back at the Boot and Shoe pub and prior to the one in the White Horse. Officer E said in her evidence she saw PC Sarson "looking upset" and told him to ignore what had upset him
He then made what the panel describe as an "over-familiar comment" calling her his "work wife" and as she walked away he smacked her on her bottom without her consent.
PC Sarson also smacked the bottom Officer C without her consent while they were in a taxi, this was in the early hours of the following morning – August 20, 2021. She confronted PC Sarson and aid “what the f*** are you doing James.”
The police officer then went on to cup his hand on her bottom cheeks. The report said PC Sarson was spoken to about his conduct, however three further incidents occurred on a separate night out in Chester on December 2, 2021.
The police officer was said to have repeatedly made sexualised comments towards Officer A including telling her she looked good that night and calling her "Boobs Magee".
The report said: "It is right that this allegation concerns language rather than physical contact. However, the panel are conscious of the fact that the name Boobs Magee is clearly objectifying and derogatory and that it was said repeatedly."
PC Sarson then went on to slap the bottom of Officer A three times without her consent outside the Queens pub. He then harassed her in Rosies nightclub, including touching her dress, hair and leg. This was seen on CCTV.
The panel said the conduct was "not as intimate or personal" as the other incidents but was still "unwelcome".
When reaching its outcome, the report said: "We find that the Officer’s behaviour was significantly affected by alcohol but not to the extent that he lost awareness of his professional responsibilities when off duty, or as is relevant in this case, his awareness of how to conduct himself properly as a member of society.
"His intoxication is relevant to culpability in that it provides an alternative, and on the panel’s analysis more likely, explanation for his behaviour as opposed to a predatory motivation.
"The panel do not accept that he has no memory of the events in question, granted his ability to recall events surrounding the central incidents. We do accept that his memory is likely affected by alcohol and by replaying events during the course of the investigation."
The report continued that the panel had to consider the effect on women who want to join the police to serve the public in relation to PC Sarson's actions.
It said: "Incidents such as these would suggest a culture of potential harassment that might put good candidates off. Policing has worked hard to change that perception.
"We accept that the officer is remorseful and shows a degree of insight and has accepted responsibility. The panel do feel a significant degree of sympathy with a young man who we judge to have conducted himself in this manner due to drink and a lack of social skills.
"We are also aware of how difficult these proceedings must have been for him, and his family and fully understand his long-held ambition to serve as police officer. That must be tempered with our concern for the others involved in this case."
Concluding that the outcome must be dismissal, the panel ruled: "Behaviour such as this cannot be tolerated and the public, serving officers and those thinking of a career in the police need to be clear they will be protected from harassment. The Officer had an informal warning and proceeded to act in a very similar way.
"This was entirely unacceptable behaviour which was serious and repeated. In acting in this way the Officer treated colleagues with serious lack of self-control and courtesy bought discredit on the force and on policing generally. The panel’s decision on outcome is that there is no alternative to dismissal without notice."
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