Devon and Cornwall police officer who sexually assaulted woman sentenced

Kane Haywood has been suspended from Devon and Cornwall Police

A Devon and Cornwall police officer who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman has been given a one-year suspended prison sentence.

Earlier this month, a jury found PC Kane Haywood, 30, not guilty of two counts of rape but guilty of one of sexual assault by penetration.

He was given a one year sentence suspended for 18 months at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday.

The sexual assault happened in Exeter in March 2021.

The court had previously heard he met his victim through social media and went to her flat when he was off duty.

In January 2023, police said he had been charged with sexual assault and rape.

'Sense of entitlement'

Bristol Crown Court heard Haywood's "misreading of signals… and a loss of self control" had resulted in a conviction which would mean the end of his career as a police officer. Judge Peter Blair KC said Haywood, of East Devon, had "behaved in a cavalier fashion and a sense of entitlement", which had a terrible psychological impact on the woman he sexually assaulted.

In deciding not to pass an immediate custodial sentence, Judge Blair said he was confident Haywood did not pose any ongoing risk to women and told him the loss of his employment as a police officer would in effect be part of his punishment. "You have forfeited a worthy career and will find it almost impossible to gain any position in the community ever again," he said. Haywood, who has been suspended from duty since his arrest, was in tears as he was released from the dock and thanked the judge in the moments after the sentence was handed down.

The judge ordered him to pay £1,000 towards costs and placed him on the Sex Offenders' register for ten years.

'Integrity of policing'

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Parker said Haywood's actions were "wholly despicable", and it was a "deeply worrying crime".

He said: "The public can be assured that the majority of our officers display exemplary behaviour every day and work extremely hard to uphold the integrity of policing.

"Any wrongdoing or unacceptable behaviour will be subject to robust investigation."

Officer in the case Det Con Hayley Willison said: "I hope the conclusion of this case goes some way to providing closure for the victim, but I know that for every victim who comes forward there are others who do not.

"I would urge anyone who is the victim of a similar crime to talk to us.

"We will believe and support you, and we will work together with partners to bring perpetrators to justice."