Police officer sentenced over sex assaults

Ryan Busby was handed a community order at Staines Magistrates' Court on Friday

A former Sussex Police officer who sexually assaulted four women has been handed an 18-month community order and told to abstain from alcohol for 90 days.

Ryan Busby, now 26, assaulted the women, all of whom were known to him, while off duty at a social event on 20 December last year.

He had pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault by touching at Guildford Magistrates' Court on 8 July.

At Staines Magistrates' Court on Friday, Busby was told that he must complete 200 hours of community service in a 12-month period. He has already been barred from serving in any police role.

A Sussex Police spokesperson said Busby had resigned from the force in August, having been suspended from duty.

The former PC would have been dismissed had he not already resigned, after gross misconduct was proven at an accelerated misconduct hearing, the force said.

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