Detective guilty of sexually assaulting colleagues

A police detective who sexually assaulted two female colleagues was branded a "dirty pervert" by one of his victims, a court has heard.

Richard Mills, who was a Detective Sergeant for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), was unanimously found guilty of two charges by a jury of four women and seven men at Liverpool Crown Court.

The married father-of-two broke down in tears when the verdicts were announced before collapsing into a chair in the dock with his head in his hands.

The 41-year-old was cleared of two other sex assaults on the first victim and a similar charge on a third woman. The jury returned their verdicts following just under eight hours of deliberations.

GMP said Mills had been suspended from the force since March 2023 and an "accelerated misconduct hearing will be scheduled to hold him accountable for his behaviour".

Judge David Swinnerton earlier told Mills, of Oakley Way in Wardle, Rochdale: "I am going to adjourn for a pre-sentence report and I am going to consider all options."

Mills had denied all five charges during the two week trial.

The first victim, who described him as "a dirty pervert", told the court how he put her hand on his crotch while she was driving him to see a sick colleague.

The second victim told how a similar incident had happened to her and explained how he put her hand on groin when they were sitting together at a seminar.

He was cleared of a further three assaults - two against the first victim, and an assault against a third colleague.

Robert Dudley, prosecuting, had told the jury that the offences took place between 2014 and the summer of 2022.

Mills's bail was continued while he awaits sentencing on 7 February.

The first internal complaint about Mills was made in 2016, GMP said, prompting detectives to begin an investigation.

The force added: "In March 2023, DS Mills made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature in an open working environment within the earshot of several colleagues, sparking numerous complaints, and gaining the attention of our Professional Standards Directorate.

"Amid this widespread offence, a police officer came forward to disclose DS Mills had sexually assaulted her in 2020."

He was suspended from the force in March 2023 and then charged that July.

Det Ch Insp Iqbal Ahmed said: "Our investigation uncovered alarming circumstances whereby Mills preyed on women in the workplace who were just trying to do their jobs.

"Mills is now a convicted sex offender, and while we are aware any outcome won't undo distress Mills caused, it is our hope today's result may provide a sense of closure to anyone affected by him."

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