Metropolitan Police officer sacked after being found not guilty of sexual assault during company outing

A Metropolitan Police officer who was found not guilty of sexual assault during a company outing has been dismissed following an internal investigation.

PC Jonathan Lee, serving in the West Area Command Unit, was found to have breached the Met’s Professional Standards Team’s Standards of Professional Conduct in respect of dishonourable conduct.

The allegation is that on 25 June 2019, PC Lee sexually harassed a woman he was dating while off duty and out with colleagues.

The incident was reported to the police and a criminal investigation was launched. PC Lee was charged on 13 January 2021.

On November 10, 2022, he was found not guilty of one count of sexual assault after a two-day trial at Isleworth Crown Court.

Following an investigation by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards, a report was submitted to superiors which found that he had committed gross misconduct.

After hearing all the evidence, the panel, chaired by an independent legally qualified chairman, decided that PC Lee should be dismissed without notice.

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson of the West Area Command Unit said: “I know the public will be concerned to hear of the firing of yet another officer for misconduct of a sexual nature.

“The Commissioner has made it clear that we work hard to remove officers whose actions undermine the public’s trust in us. It is right that PC Lee has been dismissed.”

During the proceedings, PC Lee was placed on restricted duties and on the College of Policing’s barred list, meaning he is barred from acting as a police officer or in a number of other associated roles in the future.