Brighton: Sussex police officer not guilty of assault on woman

Detective Constable Thomas Hawkins appeared before Brighton Magistrates Court yesterday accused of assaulting a woman he knew while he was off duty on May 11 last year.

Hawkins, 43, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was found not guilty by the court.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), which ordered an on-site investigation to be carried out by the Professional Standards Unit.

The force’s professional standards department will now consider disciplinary action following the outcome of the court case.

Hawkins appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court in December.