A Met Police officer who fondled a colleague's breast then told her 'I'm only an old p**f' has been sacked. Police Sergeant Sidney Rogers, who is gay, was off duty at The Bull pub in Wanstead, East London, when he reached over and grabbed his colleague's chest over her clothing, telling her 'you straight people' before making the 'p**f' comment when she protested at his grope, a tribunal heard.
PS Rogers - who was separately accused of sexual misconduct by another officer but had no case to answer - was said to have consumed 1/2 a glass of prosecco and 5 single vodkas with lemonade over the course of the evening, which began at another nearby pub, The George. Other officers who gave witness evidence described Rogers as 'extremely' or 'very' drunk, and 'obnoxious'.
The panel found the victim, Officer A, more credible than Rogers, an LGBT advocate in the force, who claimed his memory of events had improved with time. Officer A said she was left 'angry' and 'embarrassed' by what happened, and said she had been effected by Rogers' attempt to label her a 'poorly performing officer' who had only complained due to issues with her own performance.
Commander Katie Lilburn wrote: Not only did he attack the reputation of Officer A, but his defence attacked the reputation of numerous other officers; PC Samuels, PS Donohoe and PC Mack. Although we accept this was a one off drunken incident which was out of character, we do not consider that alcohol is an excuse for his inappropriate behaviour."
A Met Police spokesperson said: "The panel found that PS Sidney Rogers was proven to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour of Discreditable Conduct at a level of Gross Misconduct. PS Rogers was dismissed with immediate effect and will be placed on the College of Policing Barred List."
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