Off-duty Avon and Somerset sergeant sexually assaulted woman

Bridgwater-based Sgt Christopher Walls is barred from policing

A police officer who sexually assaulted a woman while off duty has been barred from the profession.

Sgt Christopher Walls was found to have inappropriately touched the woman outside a bar in Bristol in December 2021, said Avon and Somerset Police.

He was also found to have made inappropriate comments to her and to a second woman.

A hearing found allegations of gross misconduct against the Bridgwater-based officer had been proven.

'Robust action'

Det Ch Insp Ayesha Giles of the Professional Standards Department said: "Inappropriate behaviour such as this has absolutely no place in policing and we will always take positive action when allegations are made to us.

"Where those allegations are proven, robust action will be taken, as shown by the outcome of this hearing."

The force said the sexual assault was subject to a criminal investigation, but it was deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges with the burden of proof having a higher threshold than a conduct matter.

Sgt Walls was found to have committed gross misconduct following the four-day misconduct hearing, headed by a Legally Qualified Chair (LQC) who is independent of policing,

The LQC also decided to lift Sgt Walls' anonymity.

Det Ch Insp Giles added: "We've made it clear that all our officers and staff must uphold the high standards expected of them both on and off-duty, and they are expected to challenge and report incidents whenever these standards are not met.

"We have confidential systems in place for them to do this."

The force said Mr Walls would be placed on the College of Policing's barred list to stop him working in policing or other law enforcement agencies in the future.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [e-mail]