Hounslow policeman Shahzad Malik sacked over sex attack

A trainee detective has been sacked after a Metropolitan Police hearing found he sexually assaulted a vulnerable woman.

The misconduct panel heard Shahzad Malik from Hounslow police station in west London sexually assaulted a woman at police accommodation in Brentford.

Malik, 32, used his warrant card to reassure her before the attack.

Three sexual offence charges brought against Malik - including one of rape - were dropped last December.

'Despicable abuse'

The criminal proceedings at the Old Bailey were discontinued when the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence.

The misconduct panel hearing found allegations of sexual assault proven, despite the CPS's decision to discontinue the criminal case.

The panel heard that Malik met the woman online and they had arranged to meet for a coffee after email exchanges.

Instead of going for coffee, he drove her to Brentford and when she expressed concern he showed her his police identification.

The hearing followed an investigation by the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Rachel Cerfontyne, of the IPCC, said it was a "despicable abuse of a trusted position, which left a vulnerable young woman traumatised".

Commander Peter Spindler, of the Metropolitan Police's directorate of professional standards, said: "This officer was the subject of some very serious allegations and the misconduct hearing, having reviewed the evidence, found that the case against him was proven.

"He abused his status as a constable for his own gratification in a most appalling way. We will not tolerate this type of behaviour, and he has therefore been dismissed from the service for gross misconduct."