Defendant in force's gender description row cleared

Osareen Omoruyi was found not guilty of the four charges at Oxford Crown Court on Monday

A defendant at the centre of a row between a police force and the police and crime commissioner (PCC) that oversees it was acquitted of all charges.

Osareen Omoruyi, 51, was cleared on Monday of two counts of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at Oxford Crown Court.

Thames Valley Police said in February that Osareen Omoruyi, of Witney, Oxfordshire, was a female and had been charged with the sexual offences.

But PCC Matthew Barber said the defendant was male and the police should "deal in facts" to maintain public confidence.

The force said it had acted in line with professional guidelines.

But Mr Barber said it should not have relied on “self-described gender”.