A former police officer from Sheffield has been convicted of gross misconduct for assaulting and causing harm to a woman during a sexual encounter.
Rowan Horrocks would have been dismissed if he didn’t resign ahead of a court hearing before Chief Constable Lauren Poultney on Tuesday.
The court heard that Horrocks had left the victim with multiple and extensive injuries after he took her home following a night out in November 2021.
The 27-year-old was cleared of rape charges by a jury earlier this month after a criminal trial at Leeds Crown Court. He tendered his resignation from the force on Monday.
The injuries inflicted by Horrocks on the complainant were undisputed during the trial. Horrocks’ defence claimed that they occurred during consensual sex.
The extent of the injuries constituted assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), a category of harm that, by law, cannot be subject to consent.
Following Tuesday’s hearing, it was established that this constituted gross misconduct.
Chief Constable Poultney also concluded, based on the evidence, that no consent was given for the infliction of these injuries, and Horrocks did not reasonably believe that the complainant was consenting.
Chief Constable Poultney of South Yorkshire Police said: “This case sets a precedent within South Yorkshire Police and demonstrates how we will explore all available avenues to deal with people who do not deserve to call themselves a police officer.
“While Horrocks was acquitted of rape – and this is not in question – the level of injury suffered by the complainant was such that it amounted to ABH. By law, this cannot be consented to.
“Furthermore, I found no consent was given and Horrocks did not reasonably believe the complainant consented. I have therefore determined his actions that night amounted to gross misconduct, and I would have dismissed him had he not already resigned.
“I would like to thank the complainant for her support of these proceedings and commend her bravery in speaking up – something which can only have been more difficult for her in the knowledge that this individual was a police officer.
“I know a matter like this will understandably impact the trust and confidence our hard-working officers and staff strive to build with our communities; however it is only right we remain open and transparent about it to demonstrate how robustly we deal with someone in these circumstances.
“There is no place for such a person in my force.”
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