After being accused of having sex in his police car with a female passenger, a former officer of the force has been found not guilty of misconduct.
Lee Cocking was 41 years old and served as acting inspector for Weston-super-Mare policing. He was providing a ride home to the woman after she was kicked out of the “Skinny Dippers” nightclub following troublemaking on Christmas Eve 2017.
Although he was originally facing criminal charges, he was cleared by the jury last year from a charge for misconduct in public office.
Cocking claimed that the woman jumped across his passenger seat to reach him.
A former officer was charged with breaching standards of professional behaviour which would have amounted to gross misconduct if proven.
During a 2-week hearing on police misconduct, he told the panel that he was feeling numb. He then went to sleep. She was in a ‘complete panic’ after she pulled his pants up and tried to have sex.
Due to her refusal to be a part of the proceedings, she was not able to speak to the panel.
In July, after being diagnosed with cancer, Mr Cocking was forced to retire from the force After a 2015 fatal accident, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) was diagnosed. a young girl died.
Former police officer Lee Cocking (pictured) was cleared of misconduct after he was accused of having sex with a woman who ‘jumped on him in his patrol car’
Avon and Somerset Police Headquarters in Portishead. Deputy Chief Constable Nikki Watson stated that she was disappointed but accepted the decision.
‘The hearing has been overseen by a Legally Qualified Chair, who is independent of the constabulary.
“We are respectful of the chair’s authority, but disappointed that they did not prove the accusations about dishonesty.
“Police officers, staff and other personnel are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism at all times.”
“We’ve always believed that the actions of this former officer on 24 December 2017 did not meet those standards. They were certainly not what we would have expected from our police department.”
“We’ve invested significant time and resources in both a criminal investigation and a misconduct investigation since 2017.
“The Avon and Somerset Police has terminated the employment of this officer.”
Ex-sergeant Lee Cocking was giving the woman a lift home in his unmarked patrol car (pictured) after she was thrown out of Skinny Dippers nightclub after causing trouble on Christmas Eve in 2017
Anna Vigars (panel chair) did not disclose the reasons behind Mr Cocking’s removal, but it is likely that a statement explaining the reasoning will soon be made public.
After reading the entire statement of the panel explaining why they cleared him, she said that they wouldn’t comment on the matter further.
Ms Vigras said that she didn’t believe there was misconduct with respect to Mr Cocking. This is an important point to make. We recognize that the proceedings were difficult for all involved and thank everyone for their sense of humor.
Last year Mr Cocking was acquitted by a jury of a criminal charge of misconduct over the 2017 incident following an 11-day trial. A jury in Cirencester failed to reach a consensus on a previous trial.
The jury heard her claim that she was pregnant. She had drunk ‘three pints followed by several gin, tonics’.
According to her, she had a friction cut on her skin when trying to have sex inside the vehicle.
“He was driving and I was sitting on top of him, my back against the steering column. We had sex and my leg was right beside the door. The room was completely dark.
Ray Tully QC, who was defended Mr Cocking during the trial, suggested that the woman had straddled the officer and ‘told him to ”man up” and be a man to have sex with you’.
The man suggested that the woman slow down her vehicle as they approached Knightstone Island, Weston-super-Mare. She had stated she would like to be dropped there.
The panel heard that the woman never said she was sexually assaulted or that it was an accusation.
Panel refused Ray Tully’s request that Mr Cocking’s lawyer lift his anonymity to allow her public name.
Cocking was charged with having “sexual relations” while on duty, and of giving untruthful answers about his medical history to a custody sergeant. This would amount to gross misconduct, if it were proven.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was chucked out of Skinny Dippers nightclub before she met Mr Cocking in his car
After being cleared by the jury, he wept at the Gloucester Crown Court Trial last year.
The woman was offered a ride home by him in his unmarked silver Vauxhall Astra police vehicle, and she agreed.
Elle had been expelled from the Skinny Dippers Night Spot and was creating trouble outside of the building.
It felt almost like an “outer body experience” when the woman forced her way onto him.
Cocking claimed that he suffered from PTSD, and was unable to psychologically resist the women’s advances.
After removing her clothes and socks, she began to straddle him in the driver’s seat.
Cocking had worked as a police officer 20 years ago.
According to his barrister, Mr. Cocking believed he was the victim of sexual assault.
He stated that she had touched him on the left side of his leg while driving. Then he giggled, then said sorry.
“She shouted at me to come to a halt just before she reached the Toll Road. I pulled up, expecting her just to get out.
“But she turned towards me, her head forward and lips puckering as though she were attempting to kiss my face.
I raised my hand in an effort to stop her. I said to her, “She couldn’t do this because it would cause me trouble.”
“This was a surprise and I felt anxious.
“I felt afraid because of the similar claims against my colleagues. “I just wanted her to come home, so that I could go home.”
However, he continued to drive but his demands became louder and more insistent.
He stated that his mind was racing, and thought that if it stopped,’she would complain’.