Police officer sexually assaulted woman

The unnamed officer was found to have sexually assaulted a woman and taken intimate photographs

A police officer who sexually assaulted a woman has been found guilty at an internal hearing of gross misconduct.

The Cleveland Police officer, who has not been named to protect the identity of the victim, left the force earlier this month but a misconduct panel ruled he would have been sacked without notice had he still been on the force.

The hearing was told he had sexually assaulted the victim and taken intimate photographs of her without permission.

The BBC has asked Cleveland Police what criminal charges the officer faced and if he has been convicted of any offences in court.

The officer was found to have committed gross misconduct in relation to five out of six allegations which were put to him.

He was found not guilty of gross misconduct in relation to an allegation of possession of a knife.

He will now be placed on the College of Policing's barred list, which means he cannot work as a police officer again.

Det Ch Insp Pete Littlewood said: "The hearing found that the officer would have been dismissed without notice, had he not already ceased employment with the force."