Locations
Albert Road, Leytonstone, East London, E10
Description
A man who sexually assaulted a woman on Brighton beach has been given a two-year sentence.
A Metropolitan Police officer has been jailed after being found guilty of sexual assault against a woman whilst on his stag do in East Sussex. Sergeant Laurence Knight, from Leyton in East London, attached to Met Detention, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, June 29 of one count of sexual assault. He was sentenced to two years - one behind bars and one on licence - on Friday, July 28.
After his conviction, Knight resigned from his position at the Met. He was found guilty of sexual assault but not guilty of rape. Knight was also issued with a restraining order and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.
Knight had been on his stag do in Brighton when he sexually assaulted the woman in her 20s in the sea, on July 16, 2021. The incident was reported to Sussex Police who launched an investigation. Knight was identified as a suspect and arrested on July 28, 2021 on suspicion of rape and sexual assault.
According to Sussex Police, the woman and Knight had a verbal confrontation which concluded with the stag group leaving the beach, and she reported the incident to the police on the same day. The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards was informed, and he was suspended from duty. Now that criminal proceedings have concluded he is set to face an accelerated misconduct hearing on Thursday, August 3.
Chief Superintendent Peter Gardner, responsible for Met Detention, said: "Knight's actions were thoroughly reprehensible and I recognise his behaviour would have further damaged the public's trust in the police. I also recognise the significant impact this would have had on the victim, and I praise her for coming forward.