Met Police sergeant denies groping woman at bar

Sgt Rachel Bright's trial is taking place at Kingston Crown Court

A police officer accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a bar has told jurors she was drunk at the time and "can't remember a lot of that evening".

Sgt Rachel Bright, 46, was off duty when she allegedly touched the woman without her consent at the bar in Clapham, south-west London, on 5 December 2022.

The complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told jurors at Kingston Crown Court earlier in the trial that Sgt Bright had "groped" her genitals, adding that the "disgusting" experience had "ruined" her.

She alleges that the police officer also placed her hand on her bottom and kissed her on the lips. Metropolitan Police officer Sgt Bright, of Worcester Park in Sutton, denies one count of sexual assault.

'In a daze'

The court heard that Sgt Bright did not record in either of her two prepared statements that she had been drunk and could not remember the events of that night.

Asked about this, she said: "I was still in shock at that point. I could not believe what was being said and I could not rationalise it in my head either."

Sgt Bright added she "didn't understand" what she was being accused of at the time. "Emotionally at that point I had pretty much shut down," she told the court.

Prosecutor Paul Edwards told Sgt Bright that she understood the police interview process and could have told officers she was not fit to be questioned.

She replied: "Knowing about procedures, and the impact it has on you when you are in that position are two very different things.

"I was in a daze, I had switched off, I had closed down."

Sgt Bright, who works in the Met's south west command unit, is currently suspended from duty.

The trial continues on Friday.