Bullying ex-officer put on sex register

Jan 8 2009 by Rod Minchin, The Journal

A FORMER police officer was yesterday placed on the sex offenders register after admitting sexually assaulting a colleague.

David Roythorne, 52, a former sergeant at Northumbria Police, was also given a 12-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to sexual assault – which related to a male civilian whose bottom he touched to get his attention.

Roythorne, who retired from the police in May 2007 after 30 years’ service, had originally faced trial in July last year accused of nine counts of indecent assault, three of sexual assault and one of assault.

During his trial Roythorne said the allegations were false or just part of the locker-room culture of the force.

Prosecutors said he was an ill-tempered bully, but he insisted he was just an old-fashioned officer intent on getting results.

Roythorne, of West Moor, North Tyneside, was cleared by a jury of seven counts of indecent assault – relating to one male colleague – and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

But they failed to reach verdicts on five other charges of indecent and sexual assault and a retrial was ordered.

Roythorne’s retrial was due to begin yesterday and after his guilty plea, he was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to place his name on the sex offenders register for 12 months.

The remaining three charges of sexual assault and indecent assault will be left to lie on file.

The former policeman, who worked in the mounted section, was formally found not guilty of theft after the prosecution decided not to offer any evidence.

Roythorne was charged in August 2007 after an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation.

The investigation examined allegations about his behaviour towards fellow officers and civilian staff between July 2001 and September 2006.

IPCC commissioner Nicholas Long said: "David Roythorne believed his behaviour towards the staff under his supervision was simply locker-room banter, but our independent investigation concluded it was bullying and harassment of the worst kind. He exerted his authority through fear and intimidation.

"I would like to commend the personal courage of the complainants who came forward. I hope they can take some comfort from the fact that Mr Roythorne has acknowledged finally that his actions were unacceptable.

"This investigation was conducted thoroughly and with great sensitivity and is a credit to the work of our investigators."

This case marked the first occasion in which IPCC investigators used the powers given to them under the Police Reform Act 2002 to arrest and charge an individual. Under the Act investigators in an independent investigation have the powers of a police constable.

Judge John Evans said: "What concerns me and what concerned the police is that this defendant was effectively in charge, so if there was a culture of inappropriate behaviour he bears responsibility for not discouraging conduct of that kind.

"It is a culture that is highly undesirable."