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Detective cleared of sex attack on night out

BBC The white stone frontage of Swansea Crown Court. In front of the building are some brick steps, metal railings and parked carsBBC
Det Con Samuel Garside was accused of assaulting a woman on a night out in Aberaeron

A detective has been found not guilty of assault by penetration of a woman on a night out.

Det Con Samuel Garside, 31, had been accused of attacking the woman in Aberaeron, Ceredigion, on 3 December 2021.

Swansea Crown Court was shown an interview with the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in which she claimed Mr Garside had grabbed her, pushed her into a doorway and put his hand beneath her shorts.

The defendant, of Cwmann, in Carmarthenshire, denied the charge.

Nicola Powell KC, defending, said Mr Garside was a serving Dyfed-Powys Police officer with no previous convictions.

She told the jury people would attest to his good character.

Mr Garside was arrested on 18 July 2023 and being suspended from his work in Ceredigion the same month.

Senior investigating officer, Huw Davies, told the court "swift action was taken when the allegation was made".

The jury took about an hour to reach a verdict.

Judge Paul Thomas KC thanked the jury before discharging them.

After the case Dyfed-Powys Police said it was considering whether there would be disciplinary proceedings.

Mr Garside, it said, was still suspended.

"The force will now consider whether any formal action needs to be taken," said Deputy Chief Constable Ifan Charles.