Police officer sacked after on-duty sex assaults

Richard Mills will never work in policing again, Greater Manchester Police said following a disciplinary hearing

A police officer who was jailed for sexually assaulting two of his colleagues while on duty has been sacked and barred from policing.

Richard Mills, who was a detective sergeant for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 18 months in prison at a hearing in February.

An accelerated misconduct hearing has since been held and Mills was dismissed and banned from policing.

GMP said Mills had "preyed on women in the workplace" and his actions were "reprehensible"

Mills had been suspended from the force since March 2023.

The first internal complaint about him was made in 2016 and numerous complaints followed in 2023 about inappropriate sexual comments made in an open working environment, GMP said.

The first victim, who described Mills as "a dirty pervert", told the court how he had put her hand on his crotch while she was driving him to see a sick colleague.

The second victim told of a similar incident in 2020 when they were sitting together at a seminar.

'Victims' lives blighted'

At Mills' sentencing, the judge said the women had had their "mental health, careers and their lives blighted" by what he had done.

"There is no place for him in policing," Det Supt David Jones said.

"Mills sexually assaulted his colleagues, made inappropriate remarks of a sexual nature, and acted in a disgraceful manner."

He said the force's investigation had "uncovered alarming circumstances, whereby he preyed on women in the workplace who were simply just trying to do their jobs".

"He abused his position in the force and the trust of his colleagues for his own perverse gratification," he added.