WALSALL POLICE OFFICER JAMES BARRETT-BARNETT SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE
A probationary police officer from Walsall has been sentenced to 42 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman following a night out.James Barrett-Barnett, aged 25, was a member of Bedfordshire Police but had already been dismissed from his position after a misconduct hearing.
The incident occurred after a social evening with friends, during which Barrett-Barnett got into bed with a woman and committed a sexual assault.
Although he admitted to his actions, Barrett-Barnett claimed that the encounter was consensual.
However, the court did not accept this defense, and in April, he was convicted at Huntingdon Crown Court of two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault by penetration.
Following his conviction, a misconduct hearing was held in July, which concluded that Barrett-Barnett's actions constituted gross misconduct.
As a result, he was dismissed from the police force.
In a statement accompanying the misconduct ruling, Nick Dean, the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Police, expressed his disapproval, stating, "There is little doubt in the public’s eye that he has damaged the reputation of the police service and bought discredit to it." Det Ch Supt Zara Brown, who oversees the force’s response to violence against women and girls, emphasized that Barrett-Barnett was a probationary officer for only a short period and had just completed his initial training when the offences occurred.
She underscored the importance of zero tolerance towards violence against women, especially within the police force, as such actions undermine public trust.
Brown also praised the victim for her bravery in reporting the incident and providing evidence during the trial.
She reaffirmed the police’s stance that consent is crucial, stating, "There is no place in society for violence against women, and especially within policing, as it betrays the trust and confidence the public should have in us as a service.
We will continue to take robust action against anyone who acts in this way." She further added, "We will never accept this sort of behaviour, consent is paramount and no always means no.
It is never too late to report anything that has happened to you, and we have specialist teams who will work closely with you and will believe you."
