Met officer sentenced for sexual assault

A Met officer has been sentenced for the offence of sexual assault against a woman while on a night out with colleagues in central London.

Inspector Michael Richards, 40, attached to the Met’s Learning and Development Command, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, 25 September.

He received a 12-month community order and will be placed on the National Sex Offender Register for 5 years.

He was previously found guilty of sexual assault on Monday, 10 August, following a week-long trial at the same court.

On Wednesday, 17 September 2024, police were called to a pub in Central London following reports that Insp Richards had touched the bottoms of a man and a woman.

Following his arrest and interview, he was released on bail as enquiries continued and suspended from duty.

On Sunday, 25 May he was charged with two counts of sexual assault. A jury found him guilty of one count of sexual assault. He was found not guilty of the other count of sexual assault.

Insp Richards will now face an accelerated misconduct hearing.

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, from the Met’s People Directorate said: “Inspector Michael Richards’ behaviour was wholly inappropriate and unacceptable. Such conduct has no place in the Met and it is right he has been held accountable.

“I would like to thank his colleagues for demonstrating the standards we expect by challenging his behaviour that night. We encourage officers and staff to continue to call out poor behaviour both on and off-duty."