Police officer who closed sex assault case sacked

Karen Young was dismissed for gross misconduct after a three-day hearing at the Sussex Police headquarters in Lewes, pictured

A Sussex Police officer who prematurely closed a sexual assault investigation after falsely claiming the alleged victim was no longer being co-operative has been sacked.

Det Sgt Karen Young, 43, claimed the alleged victim was unsupportive of the investigation, which was untrue, and recorded this on the investigation log as the reason for closing the case in 2021.

Young, a former investigations supervisor in the force’s West Sussex division, was dismissed without notice after a misconduct hearing held at Sussex Police’s headquarters earlier this week.

Det Supt Andy Wolstenholme, deputy head of professional standards, said the sexual assault investigation had been reopened.

Young was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in respect of duties and responsibilities, honesty and integrity. Her behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

Det Supt Wolstenholme said: “Victims of crime are always at the heart of our investigations, and we aim to provide the very best service. We are sorry that we did not do so on this occasion.

"Police officers must behave in a manner that does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence."