PC denies sexually assaulting fellow officer

PC Joshua McKeown-Holbrook is facing 18 separate allegations of inapropriate behaviour

A police officer could be sacked over accusations he stroked his colleague's thigh while they were alone in a police car.

PC Joshua McKeown-Holbrook, who works for West Yorkshire Police in Leeds, is currently facing internal misconduct proceedings.

A total of 18 allegations of inappropriate behaviour have been made against him by three female officers he worked with between January and October 2023.

PC McKeown-Holbrook, who has been suspended since the accusations emerged, told a hearing he accepted some of the allegations against him, but said his behaviour was friendly and not sexually motivated.

The officer said he had been acting out of concern for his colleague when he touched her thigh.

He denied running his fingers up and down her leg.

PC McKeown-Holbrook did not face criminal proceedings over the accusation, a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police confirmed.

Other allegations against the officer include making inapropriate comments when he sent a text message to a different colleague which read: "You look hot in that bright yellow highlighter" - a reference to her police uniform jacket.

PC McKeown-Holbrook claimed his comments were intended as a "morale booster" and to be a "confidence boost".

The same complainant, who was referred to as PC B during the hearing at the force's Wakefield HQ, accused PC McKeown-Holbrook of winking at her, sticking his tongue out and calling her "Trouble".

She said such behaviour was a "daily occurence", telling the hearing: "It made me very uncomfortable, I'm not sure where it came from."

PC B also claimed the officer took hold of her hand when they too were alone in a police car, while all three women said he would "lightly punch" them on their thighs.

'Extremely unprofessional'

Simon Mallett, the barrister representing West Yorkshire Police, said the complainants were "uncomfortable with with [PC McKeown-Holbrook] as a result of his conduct towards them - and went out of their way to avoid him".

Mr Mallett told the hearing PC McKeown-Holbrook claimed to be "unaware" his comments and behaviour were seen as "inapropriate", and that he been acting in a "friendly" manner.

Mr Mallett said the behaviour left the women feeling "uncomfortable, awkward and annoyed", and amounted to sexual assault and sexual harassment.

"It is behaviour female colleagues shouldn't experience in the workplace," he added.

The accusations were reported after a sergeant overheard the three officers talking about PC McKeown-Holbrook's alleged behaviour.

Asked why she did not report him sooner, PC B said she was "anxious" about the effect it could have.

She added that she did not believe his behaviour towards her amounted to a criminal act, but described it as "extremely unprofessional".

"I don't know if sexual is the right word, I definitely thought it was flirty in nature."

PC McKeown-Holbrook, who attended the first day of the hearing on Monday, is expected to give evidence in his defence during the five-day tribunal.

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