Albert Jardine 79

Description

A serving police officer sexually assaulted a member of the public and told her: 'I can get away with it, I'm a PC, no-one will believe you'. Albert Jardine was a PC based in Newcastle when he subjected her to "lewd and disgusting" behaviour.

A court heard he would regularly grab her and thrust against her and on one occasion threw water on her blouse to create a wet T-shirt look. The Northumbria Police officer's behaviour was reported to an inspector at the time and the professional standards department investigated but took no action and Jardine retired on medical grounds soon afterwards.

Decades later, his victim, having seen other historic cases being dealt with, plucked up the courage to report him. Jardine, now a 79-year-old great-grandfather, of Millbrook, Felling, Gateshead, was convicted of indecent assault by a jury and has now been given a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.

Christopher Rose, prosecuting, said: "She described how he would come up behind her, grab her and hold her tight. Others spoke of him doing something like a bear hug. When he did it with her, she could feel he was aroused and he pressed himself up against her.

"He also did it from the front, pressing up against her groin and making thrusting motions as if having sex. He would often make lewd comments and jokes."

The prosecutor added: "When it was investigated at the time, one of the complaints that arose was that the defendant had thrown water at her chest so as to create a wet T-shirt effect. The complainant reported when spoken to by senior officers at the time that the defendant said 'I can get away with it, I'm a PC, no-one will believe you'. It was that impression she had that meant she didn't complain sooner."

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: "The actions of Jardine have stayed with me more than 33 years. Despite trying to put it behind me. On a daily basis I see his grinning face in my mind.

"At the time I felt embarrassed and alone." She said she was left wanting answers to questions including: "Why did he treat me like that? Why did the police allow it to happen to me?

"I still feel aggrieved he treated me like he did and the police allowed me to be treated like that."

Jardine was convicted after trial of indecent assault spanning a year in the early 1990s, on the basis there were not less than two separate incidents.

Sentencing him, Judge Julie Clemitson said: "The specific offences have to be seen in the context of your general behaviour towards her, which describes as generally lewd and disgusting, beyond what could be described as acceptable, even then. She said you were quite a nice man if you sat and talked to her but had no respect for her or women generally."

The judge said the offending was reported by another police officer at the time to an inspector and the force's professional standards department investigated but it "came to nothing" and very shortly afterwards he took early retirement due to ill health.

Judge Clemitson said the woman eventually found the courage to come forward after seeing other people report historical cases. She added: "She said she just wanted you to explain yourself, she wanted an answer from you. That she didn't get because you denied it at trial and you deny it still."

She added: "The offences were committed in the context of degrading or humiliating conduct.

"You were working as a serving police officer at the time. Any member of the public was entitled to trust that you would protect them rather than harm them. Instead you violated that trust and risked damaging public trust in the police generally."

Judge Clemitson said it was likely Jardine's behaviour would add to the sense of distrust created by the misbehaviour of other police officers over the years.

She added it is "important victims of this sort of offending feel able to speak out" and that "perpetrators can't hide behind a badge" when they break their oath to protect and serve and that the public can have faith.

Jardine was sentenced to eight months suspended for 18 months and must pay £3,000 towards the cost of the prosecution, at £150 a month.

Andrew Walker, defending, said: "He is embarrassed and ashamed beyond belief after being convicted of an offence of this nature." He added: "He worked all of his life until medical retirement.

"He has not been in trouble before or since. He is a family man with two grown up children, a wife of many years and two grandchildren and a great-grandson. He plays a very important part in the lives of all of those people."