Yorkshire police officer who pulled down woman's top and took pictures guilty of sexual assault
10 January 2023, 18:50 | Updated: 10 January 2023, 20:13
A South Yorkshire Police officer who pulled down a women's top and took a picture of her chest has been found guilty of sexual assault.
Paul Hinchcliffe, 46, was found guilty after a trial at Leeds Crown Court where jurors heard how he took a picture of the woman, which he sent to one of his colleagues.
Jurors were also told how Mr Hinchcliffe made inappropriate comments to the 18-year-old girl after a night out, including "God I'd do you, is that bad?"
Hinchcliffe also told the woman "had the bum of a 12-year-old girl".
He claims he was making a joke, saying it was a line from an old Arnold Schwarzenegger film, YorkshireLive reports.
He told the court: "The people at work - other guys - would often make silly comments like that."
As for making an inappropriate comment about watching her go to the toilet, Mr Hinchcliffe said: "I could have quite possibly said something like that but there's nothing sexual in it, it's just banter. I'm not saying I didn't, but I can't remember saying it."
Another officer told Hinchcliffe he could face prison time after he received the inappropriate picture of the woman.
The officer, Ian Dillon, said: "My feeling was a combination of being quite angry, because I was with my wife at that point, and a little bit shocked as well."
Mr Dillon said he received another image from Hinchcliffe where the disgraced officer's hands were in front of a women's chest.
He texted his colleague back: "It's all looking a bit gropey there Hinchy, you behaving yourself?"
Hinchcliffe replied: "They made me, they said 'Please, please Hinch pretend you're grabbing your mammaries,' I said no and they made me."
Mr Dillon said: "Oh the old, 'They made me b*******,' enjoy prison Hinch."
Hinchcliffe will be sentenced at a later date.
