Female cop groped two police officers and told one ‘I bet you’re a big boy’ on drunken night out with colleagues
A FEMALE cop groped two police officers and told one “I bet you’re a big boy” during a drunken night out, a tribunal heard.
PC Olivia Clinton had gone to the Eagle pub in Eastbourne, East Sussex, with colleagues where she became “extremely intoxicated”.
The 30-year-old first grabbed one male officer – PC B – who initially assumed it was his partner groping his bottom.
When he turned around, Clinton told him: “I bet you’re a big boy aren’t you?”
The tribunal heard she later targeted PC B again and put her hand on his crotch while he was stood at the bar.
Clinton asked him: “You’re really fit aren’t you?”
The Sussex Police officer, who has resigned from the force, also groped a female colleague’s breast and called her “really sexy”.
Clinton has now been barred from ever serving as an officer again following a police misconduct hearing in Lewes.
The panel heard the group had gone for a night out at the Wetherspoons on January 4.
Clinton was bought several drinks by colleagues and became extremely drunk during the course of the evening.
Sarah Taylor, counsel for Sussex Police, said: “Both of those touching incidents amounted to a sexual assault..
“She was spoken to directly afterwards. There was a discussion about their shock at what had taken place.
“PC Clinton was very intoxicated at the time and most of the people had been drinking.
“She was collected by her partner later that evening after officers called him and he came to get her.
“She has no recollection of either of the allegations. She recalls speaking to PC B but does not recall later interactions. She does not recall meeting PC A at all.”
The tribunal heard Clinton joined Sussex Police as a PCSO in 2019 and later became a full officer in 2022.
Early in her police career, she was part of a team tackling the impact of rural crime in the county.
Clinton apologised to both officers for her behaviour in a statement read to the hearing.
The panel was also told she was on a diet at the time and had barely eaten before going out boozing.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Thompson, of Sussex Police Federation, said: “This was an isolated incident in an otherwise unblemished a career.
“She is disappointed in herself. She was out socialising with colleagues and rarely drank.”
He said that since the incident, Clinton has as good as given up alcohol – drinking just two glasses of wine in total.
The panel found Clinton would have been sacked if she was still serving on the force.
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner said: “Culpability was high as the actions were repeated and the upset caused ought to have been foreseeable.
“PC Clinton was very drunk but that does not excuse her actions, indeed it is an aggravating feature.
“The result of this is we find should PC Clinton have been a serving officer she would have been dismissed without notice and she will be placed on the barred list.
“Alcohol does not abdicate personal responsibility. The responsibility for her actions are hers and hers alone.”