A DISGRACED former police officer has avoided a prison sentence after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two young women.

During a night out in Liverpool City Centre in July 2020, former Merseyside Police officer Paul Ledwith committed a series of sexual assaults and acted in a way that has been described as "predatory", "shocking", and "reprehensible", a court was told.

Ledwith, whose former address of Cotton Terrace, Bold, was given in court, although it is understood he no longer lives there, previously pleaded not guilty to five charges of sexual assault, but he was found guilty by a jury of three charges of sexual touching.

A police misconduct hearing also found that Ledwith's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

The former officer was sentenced for the criminal charges at Manchester Crown Court today (Thursday, October 17).

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Young women assaulted and followed

The court was told that on the night in question, an intoxicated Ledwith began making a series of sexually suggestive comments to the group he was with.

With the senior police officer acting in a "dominant and boorish" way, one witness said that the night was already turning into "the Paul show" before the assaults began.

After the group left a city centre bar, Ledwith's sexual assaults began as he put his hand on a young woman's bottom, which the court was told she did not consent to "in any way, shape or form".

The then 45-year-old's actions continued as he began touching another woman on the leg at the next bar.

The court was told that although it was apparent to everybody else that she was upset, the officer was "determined" to be around her and CCTV footage captured him shadowing and following her.

Ledwith then followed his first victim into the women's bathroom, where she had to hide in the cubicle to get away from him.

After being challenged for being in the women's bathroom, Ledwith waited for his victim and touched her on the bottom once again as she left the bathroom.

The group fled to their hotel to get away from him.

Former officer 'truly sorry' for assaults

Defending Ledwith, Charlotte Rimmer said that the 49-year-old was "truly sorry" for his actions and expressed "genuine remorse and regret" over his behaviour and the impact it has had on his victims.

Ms Rimmer said that he was "mortified" with his behaviour that night, adding that Ledwith has struggled with his depression and his mental health throughout his life, and particularly struggled during the pandemic.

Suggesting that Ledwith's behaviour was out of character as he has no previous convictions, Ms Rimmer said that the consequences of his actions have been "profound" as he has lost his job as a police officer and later as an HGV driver. 

The 49-year-old has also been unable to leave the house due to fears of being recognised, Ms Rimmer added.

'Utterly reprehensible behaviour'

Judge Thomas Gilbart rejected the claim that Ledwith was of previous good character due to previous proceedings that were being brought against him by Merseyside Police.

Ledwith's mental health mitigation was also rejected as "millions of other people in this country struggled with the effects of the pandemic, but they didn't go around sexually assaulting people".

The judge also noted that the assaults were more serious as Ledwith, who knows what amounts to sexual assault due to his work as a police officer, was told to stop but continued with his "predatory and sustained" behaviour regardless.

Speaking to Ledwith, Judge Gilbart said: "You acted with utterly reprehensible behaviour and preyed upon women younger than you [...] but your sexual desires were more important than their feelings.

"You have no credit for guilty pleas because despite your disgraceful behaviour, you did not admit to what you did and you should be utterly ashamed of yourself."

Taking all things into consideration, Judge Gilbart sentenced Ledwith to 12 months in prison. However, noting his lack of previous convictions and lack of offending since the incidents four years ago, he suspended this sentence for two years.

Now a registered sex offender, Ledwith will have to take part in a rehabilitation programme and commit to 250 hours of unpaid work.

Restraining orders against his victims will also be in place.