A detective inspector who groped a female officer’s breasts at a Christmas party and insisted it was a ‘two-way thing’ has been sacked from the force.
Jonathan Kent, in his 40s, placed his hands on the officer’s bottom and chest after they danced together at the Sway Bar in Holborn, central London, on 12 December 2019.
They had hugged and kissed after leaving the dancefloor together before the woman reminded Kent of his ‘fiancée and children’.
He insisted it was a ‘two-way thing’ and was ‘absolutely certain’ she consented, and that she ‘fancied him’.
Kent was stationed at the Met Police Central West Command Unit and admitted that he had violated professional standards in respect to authority, respect, and courtesy.
Jonathan Kent in his 40s is seen leaving the International Dispute Resolution Centre (City of London) earlier in the four day hearing. He placed his hands on the bottom of the female officer, chest, and crotch, after the pair danced at a Christmas party Sway bar in Holborn on 12/12/2019
After a four day hearing, the Met Police disciplinary panel ruled that his conduct was gross misconduct.
Panel chair Darren Snow said: ‘This was a one off and out of character event involving an officer with a 20-year career and significant service.’
But he added that ‘the only outcome’ could be dismissal without notice.
A panel found that he had violated professional standards, including respect for authority and politeness.
Mr Snow said: ‘This type of behaviour clearly brings the Metropolitan Police Service into disrepute.
Kent was accepted by the panel as he had violated professional standards concerning authority, respect and polite conduct. Pictured earlier during the four-day hearing at the International Dispute Resolution Centre
‘Mr Kent would have known that to pursue this younger female officer was wrong.
‘He would have known that his behaviour risks causing Officer A embarrassment with her colleagues and potentially undermining her as a younger police officer.’
Mr Snow said while the panel found Kent did reasonably believe Officer A consented at the time, this is ‘no excuse or justification or defence to the appalling behaviour on that night’.
He continued: ‘The public rightly expect senior police officers to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
‘Mr Kent has failed to do so.
‘The panel finds that the behaviour is so serious and so misjudged that our only finding can be gross misconduct.’
Kent has been officially dismissed from his position as a police officer, but is now no longer serving.
Kent provided video evidence and said that it was well-known in the workplace that the colleague thought Kent attractive.
‘I had heard from various sources at different times.
‘It was sort of banter in the office.
‘She had said to various people at various times that she fancied me and that she was going to come after me.’
The team stopped at Covent Garden’s pub before they headed to Holborn on the night of the Christmas party.
In December 2019, they attended the Christmas party at Sway Bar, Holborn central London. After Kent finished their wine, the panel was informed that Kent and her partner remained at the table.
‘I noticed in the pub she was making eye contact and holding eye contact a number of times whilst having a drink,’ Kent said.
The panel at the Sway Bar heard Kent and the lady remained at their table, along with small groups of officers, to finish the remaining bottles of wine.
The former inspector said: ‘As the meal was progressing we were speaking more informally with each other.
‘She sat next to me, touching me, touching my knee.’
Later in the evening the two were dancing, as part of a group and also separately, including her ‘gyrating’ on him.
‘I took that whole thing to be very flirtatious behaviour and I was probably being flirtatious myself as well and in my mind it was being received well,’ Kent said.
‘I had absolutely no indication that what I was doing was not welcome or accepted.
He added: ‘She was going out for a cigarette, and she asked me to go out with her.
‘It was a continuation of the flirtatious atmosphere that was between us. It was a two-way thing.’
Kent was open to touching her bottom, breasts, and crotch.
He added that while he is ‘ashamed’ of those actions, he is ‘certain’ it was what his colleague wanted.
Following a four-day hearing, the Met Police disciplinary committee, sitting at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre, pictured, found that his conduct was gross misconduct.
The ex-Met detective inspector continued: ‘She was saying she liked me, she fancied me, she wanted to do something, but what if somebody sees us, and what about your family.
‘But there was no message to say what you are doing is wrong or I don’t want this.
‘It is a matter of huge regret for me.
‘I totally accept that I let myself down personally and professionally.
‘I went out on a Christmas do, had too much to drink and conducted myself in a manner that is not consistent with my character.
‘I am deeply sorry to everybody who has had to work as part of this unpleasant process.
‘I am very sorry to her as well for any trouble that she has been put towards.
‘For whatever hardship she suffered as a result of this, I’m very very sorry.’
Kent admitted that he violated professional conduct standards regarding authority, respect and politeness, however, he claimed the violations amounted not to gross misconduct but misconduct.