Disgraced police officer guilty of “appalling” sexual assault on woman in Wath pub

A POLICE officer has been convicted of sexual assault after he made suggestive comments to a woman in a Wath pub and took photographs down her top with his mobile phone.

PC Paul Hinchcliffe (46) was drinking at The Church House on October 3, 2020, when he made sexually suggestive comments towards the woman, while also taking a photograph of her and showing it to other people.

Hinchcliffe then flicked beer foam from the top of his pint at her chest area, pulled her top down and took another photograph.

The woman was upset by the incident and asked a friend to come and pick her up so she could leave the venue, Leeds Crown Court was told.

Following a report to South Yorkshire Police’s professional standards department, an investigation was launched.

During his interview, Hinchcliffe, of Wath, gave no comment in response to all of the questions put to him.

CCTV obtained from pub as well as the photographs taken by Hinchcliffe with his phone were obtained and used as part of the case.

Hinchcliffe, who worked in training, was charged with one count of sexual assault, which he denied, but was found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

The officer, who remains suspended from duties, with an internal misconduct investigation underway, will be sentenced on February 28

Hinchcliffe will be sentenced at a later date.

Det Supt Delphine Waring, head of PSD, said: "Hinchcliffe behaved in a way that day that fell well below the standards we expect of our officers and staff, including when they are not on duty.

“Colleagues across the force are as appalled by this behaviour as our communities will be.

“We remain firmly committed to ensuring our workforce reflects the high standards the people of South Yorkshire rightly expect and will continue to take appropriate action when this does not happen.”