A City of London Police officer has appeared in court after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman during a night out in a karaoke bar.
PC Thomas Hawkes, 22, is accused of repeatedly rubbing his foot up the inside of the woman’s leg at Lucky Voice Karaoke in Devonshire Square, in Liverpool Street.
The alleged sexual assault happened on April 28 last year, and Hawkes is currently suspended from his policing role.
Hawkes, who lives in Chelmsford in Essex, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to face the charge for the first time.
He indicated a not guilty plea, and elected to face a crown court trial in front of judge and jury.
The court heard Hawkes denies the alleged touching with his foot.
City of London Police Detective Superintendent Carly Humphreys, who leads the force’s Professional Standards Department, announced the charge against Hawkes last month.
“A serving City of London Police Constable Thomas Hawkes, 22, from Chelmsford, has been charged with one count of sexual assault by touching, following an incident that happened while off duty on 28th April 2023.
“Hawkes was arrested on the 28th June 2023. The officer was immediately suspended following his arrest.”
District Judge Michael Snow agreed to release Hawkes on conditional bail until a hearing next month at Inner London Crown Court.
The suspended officer is banned from visiting any City of London Police premises unless for a pre-arranged appointment, and he is also prohibited from contacting others who were in the karaoke bar that night.
He is due to appear at Inner London Crown Court on April 2, when a trial date is expected to be set.
