By James Simons-
A former South Yorkshire Police officer has been jailed after sexually assaulting a woman in a pub.
PC Paul Hinchcliffe, 46,(pictured) was off-duty and drinking in The Church House public house in Wath when he made sexually suggestive comments towards the victim.
Hinchcliffe was drinking with other police officers in The Church House pub at the time of the offence
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The pervert first took a photo of the woman and showed it to friends and made a comment about performing a sex act, the court heard.
Hinchcliffe also flicked beer foam from the top of his pint at her chest area, before pulling down her top and taking a photograph.
His victim told Leeds Crown Court the the officer’s behaviour had destroyed her trust in the police.
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The married father-of-four resigned from the force after being convicted by a jury in January.
The woman was so upset by the incident in October 2020 she asked a friend to come and pick her up so she could leave, said South Yorkshire Police.
Hinchcliffe, who worked in training, was convicted of one count of sexual assault by a jury in January following a trial and later resigned from the force.
On Friday (March 31) at Leeds Crown Court he was sentenced to eight months in prison and has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years.
At an accelerated misconduct hearing last month, Chief Constable Lauren Poultney concluded that the criminal conviction was a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct and amounted to gross misconduct.
Her decision was that, had he still been serving, Hinchcliffe would have been dismissed without notice.
Ms Poultney said: “This case demonstrates that wrongdoing and poor standards will not be tolerated in South Yorkshire Police. Whether our officers and staff are on duty or not, the public rightly expect us to portray the true values of policing at all times and this former officer fell woefully below these expectations.
“I am mindful this hearing follows the release of the Baroness Casey report last week and wish to assure our communities that here in South Yorkshire Police we are doing absolutely everything we can to root out those who are not fit to represent your force.
“This particular case was investigated following an internal report to our Counter Corruption Unit, which demonstrates the willingness of the vast majority of our workforce to stand up for what is right.
“Force standards and culture continue to be my top priority and when wrongdoing and poor standards are identified, the perpetrators will be dealt with swiftly and robustly.”
Hinchcliffe has also been placed on the police barred list, which means he will never work in policing again.
In a victim impact statement, the 18-year-old said: “All my trust for the police just went.
“I used to feel safe when I saw police officers. I never think that now.”
Sentencing Hinchcliffe, of Songthrush Way, Wath upon Dearne, Judge Robin Mairs told him his conduct “betrays your fellow officers who do a decent, committed job and makes women mistrustful of the police force”.
Katherine Pierpoint, defending, had urged the judge to suspend the prison sentence and pointed to a raft of references from colleagues about his 20-year career.
Mr Mairs rejected her plea and noted Hinchcliffe’s role at the time of the offence involved training student police officers, saying he had breached the standards he was tasked with instilling into recruits.
He said the behaviour of Hinchcliffe and other officers in the pub “went far beyond jokes and banter” and had dented the victim’s trust in both men and the police.
South Yorkshire Police said an accelerated misconduct hearing on 9 February concluded Hinchcliffe’s conviction amounted to gross misconduct and the officer would have been dismissed without notice if he had still been serving.
Hinchcliffe, whose name will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years, has been placed on the police barred list, meaning he will never work in policing again, the force added.
Chief Constable Lauren Poultney said: “Whether our officers and staff are on duty or not, the public rightly expect us to portray the true values of policing at all times and this former officer fell woefully below these expectations.”
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