A Met Police officer found not guilty of sexual assault during a work night out has been sacked after an internal investigation.
PC Jonathan Lee, who served in the West Area Command Unit, was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour with regard to discreditable conduct by the Met’s professional standards team.
It follows an allegation that while off duty and out with colleagues on June 25, 2019 PC Lee sexually assaulted a woman he was with.
The matter was reported to police and a criminal investigation was carried out. PC Lee was charged on January 13, 2021.
He was found not guilty of one count of sexual assault on November 10, 2022 at Isleworth Crown Court following a two-day trial.
Following the investigation by officers from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, a report was submitted to senior officers who found he had a case to answer for gross misconduct.
After hearing all of the evidence the panel, which was led by an independent legally qualified chair, determined PC Lee should be dismissed without notice.
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson of the West Area Command Unit said: “I know the public will be concerned to hear of another officer dismissed for misconduct of a sexual nature.
“The Commissioner has made it crystal clear that we are working hard to root out officers whose actions erode public trust in us. It is right that PC Lee has been dismissed.”
PC Lee was on restricted duties during the process and has been placed on the College of Policing barred list meaning he cannot serve as a police officer or in a number of other related roles in the future.