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Officer cleared of 'bottom slap' Officer cleared of 'bottom slap'
(10 minutes later)
A Thames Valley police sergeant has been cleared of sexually assaulting two female colleagues at a barbecue.A Thames Valley police sergeant has been cleared of sexually assaulting two female colleagues at a barbecue.
It was alleged Mark Downing, 39, of Tilehurst in Reading, Berkshire, told one woman her bottom was "perky" before slapping it while drunk.It was alleged Mark Downing, 39, of Tilehurst in Reading, Berkshire, told one woman her bottom was "perky" before slapping it while drunk.
But at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday the jury found him not guilty of three counts of sexual assault.But at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday the jury found him not guilty of three counts of sexual assault.
The sergeant remains suspended from his job pending internal disciplinary proceedings by Thames Valley Police.The sergeant remains suspended from his job pending internal disciplinary proceedings by Thames Valley Police.
It took jurors an hour-and-a-half to clear Mr Downing, who denied all the accusations.It took jurors an hour-and-a-half to clear Mr Downing, who denied all the accusations.
'Go forward''Go forward'
In a statement he said: "It was never my intention to cause upset or alarm to any person or my organisation.In a statement he said: "It was never my intention to cause upset or alarm to any person or my organisation.
"I am pleased that this is now behind me and I can now go forward from this point.""I am pleased that this is now behind me and I can now go forward from this point."
During his three-day trial, the prosecution claimed he told the woman "If you are bending over, it's there to be slapped". During the three-day trial, the prosecution claimed the sergeant told the woman "If you are bending over, it's there to be slapped".
At the same barbecue in Slough on 6 July last year, Mr Downing was also accused of grabbing another woman officer's waist and said "you and me, outside."At the same barbecue in Slough on 6 July last year, Mr Downing was also accused of grabbing another woman officer's waist and said "you and me, outside."
On an earlier occasion, at a pub in Eton, he was said to have put his hand under the second female constable's top and touched the top of her bottom, prosecutor Christopher Smyth said.On an earlier occasion, at a pub in Eton, he was said to have put his hand under the second female constable's top and touched the top of her bottom, prosecutor Christopher Smyth said.
The charges followed an investigation led by Thames Valley Police's Professional Standards Department, after female officers made statements alleging that they had been assaulted by Mr Downing. Det Ch Con Alex Marshall said: '"This case was properly identified through interviews with the witnesses and was brought to trial by the Crown Prosecution Service. The charges followed an investigation led by Thames Valley Police's Professional Standards Department, after female officers made statements alleging that they had been assaulted by Mr Downing.
"The Force will now consider a police misconduct hearing in respect of Mr Downing's behaviour." Det Ch Con Alex Marshall said: '"This case was properly identified through interviews with the witnesses and was brought to trial by the Crown Prosecution Service.
"The force will now consider a police misconduct hearing in respect of Mr Downing's behaviour."