Former detective Jonathan Kent has been banned from ever serving as a police officer again (PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)A Met police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct for touching a female colleague in a sexual manner.
Jonathan Kent, a former detective at Central West Basic Command Unit, approached a female colleague at a bar in December 2019 and began running his hands both over and under her clothing.
A Met disciplinary panel found his actions had breached expected “standards of professional behaviour” and amounted to “discreditable conduct”.
Chief Superintendent Owain Richards, Central West Command Unit Borough Commander, said: “This conduct is absolutely unacceptable and there is no place for this kind of behaviour in the Met.
“No one should ever be subject to sexual touching of any kind no matter where it happens or indeed who the perpetrator is.
“The blame lays squarely with the perpetrator and they should be held accountable for their actions. It is right that if DI Kent had still been serving, he would have been dismissed without notice “DI Kent abused his authority and seniority of rank to carry out these despicable acts against a colleague. Officers like former DI Kent have no place in the Met.”
After considering the evidence, the chair, Mr Darren Snow, concluded that had former DI Kent still been a serving officer, he would have been dismissed without notice.
He will also be added to the barred list held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.
