Met Police sergeant jailed for sexually assaulting woman in the sea at Brighton on his stag do would have been dismissed if he’d not already resigned, Scotland Yard reveals

• Met Police Sgt Laurence Knight, 34, sexually assaulted a woman on his stag do
• He was found guilty of sexual assault and cleared of rape following a trial

A Met Police sergeant sexually assaulted a stranger in the sea at Brighton on his stag night would have been dismissed if he had not resigned from the force.

Laurence ‘Larry’ Knight, 34, carried out the attack after his group were entertained by strippers at their AirBnb in the Sussex resort.

Knight met the 21-year-old victim in Brighton town centre on July 17, 2021, while social distancing rules were still in place due to Covid-19. They headed for the sea and were treading water together when Knight complained he was having a ‘rubbish night’ and was meant to enjoying himself.

Former Oxford University student Knight moved her underwear to one side and touched her intimately after she told him: ‘You’re getting married in two weeks’.

Laurence ‘Larry’ Knight, 34, carried out the attack after his group were entertained by strippers at their AirBnb in the Sussex resort 

The police sergeant, who was based at Stoke Newington police station in north London at the time, denied rape and sexual assault. He was convicted of sexual assault and cleared of rape. The former royalty protection officer was jailed for two years.

A Met Police misconduct panel found that the officer had breached professional behaviour standards and would have been kicked out of the force if he had not resigned following his conviction.

Chief Superintendent Peter Gardner, responsible for Met Detention, said: ‘Knight’s actions were thoroughly reprehensible and I recognise his behaviour would have further damaged the public’s trust in the police.

‘The commissioner has been clear that there is no place in the Met for officers who corrupt our integrity. Knight was suspended as soon as his offending came to light and had he not resigned he would have been dismissed with immediate effect.’ 

Knight met the 21-year-old victim in Brighton town centre on July 17, 2021, while social distancing rules were still in place due to Covid-19

Summing up a victim impact statement Maryam Syed, prosecuting, said: ‘She had to seek counselling much of which she had to fund herself.

‘She has suffered fear, she has suffered anxiety, she has suffered some very dark thoughts over the course of this matter. Taken together, if this is not deemed severe psychological harm, what would be.’

Ms Syed had referenced the cases of the former Met firearm officers, serial rapist David Carrick and killer cop Wayne Couzens when she said they are ‘charged with upholding the law and are empowered to do so.’

Knight, who studied chemistry at Balliol College, Oxford, admitted he pulled the woman’s bikini bottoms to one side but said he stopped when he realised what he was doing was wrong.

He insisted there was ‘no way’ he could have penetrated her during the encounter.

Knight, of Leyton, east London, denied rape and sexual assault. He was found guilty of sexual assault and cleared of rape.

Source: Read Full Article