Northamptonshire police officer assaulted two women at house party

PC Gareth Middleton, a response officer based in Kettering, had been at the party in 2021, at which the women were guests.

He was subsequently charged with two counts of sexual assault and at the end of a four-day trial at Leicester Crown Court in November, he was found guilty by a jury on both charges.

PC Middleton returned to the same court to be sentenced on Friday (December 19).

As well as the two-year community order, Middleton was told to complete 250 hours unpaid work, given 10 hours rehabilitation activity put on the Sex Offender Register for five years and ordered to pay £2,000 costs.

At the time of the assaults PC Middleton, a response officer based in Kettering, was at a house party in Wellingborough in 2021 at which the women were guests.

The incident took place on August 27, 2021, when during the course of the evening PC Middleton sat next to a woman on the sofa and proceeded to touch her sexually.

Fearing for her safety, the woman excused herself and later reported the incident to Northamptonshire Police.

PC Middleton was suspended while an investigation took place.

During the course of that investigation a second woman came forward, telling officers that PC Middleton had approached her while she was dancing at the same house party and touched her inappropriately.

The offence was captured on video by the woman’s boyfriend.

Northamptonshire Police said in November the force would be proceeding with accelerated gross misconduct proceedings.