Norwich police officer convicted of sexual assault during night out

A policeman named Ben Poole has been convicted of sexually assaulting two individuals on a nightclub dancefloor during a night out in Norwich with fellow officers. The trial at Ipswich Crown Court revealed that Poole, aged 25, was accused of sexually assaulting two women and a man while celebrating a colleague's birthday at Bar and Beyond on Prince of Wales Road. The jury found him guilty of two counts but acquitted him of a charge concerning one of the women. During the trial, Poole claimed he was "intoxicated beyond knowing what he was doing" and suggested his drinks might have been spiked, although prosecutors argued he was one of the group's more enthusiastic drinkers. Prosecutors detailed how he reportedly grabbed a woman's breasts and rubbed them in a circular motion, as well as approaching a man and grabbing his penis and a woman’s vagina. Poole, previously based in Great Yarmouth, was suspended from duty in 2023 following these allegations. The police force expressed their disgust at his behavior, emphasizing that any form of sexual assault is unacceptable and that officers who violate standards are dismissed. A sentencing date has been set for August 29, with the court process highlighting his misconduct and the distress caused to his victims.