A married police officer who sexually assaulted a female colleague in her own home has been sacked following a misconduct hearing.
Detective Constable Nick Gravenor spent months pursuing a sexual relationship with the young woman, named only as ‘M’.
The 41-year-old told her that he found her attractive and complimented her on having a ‘nice bum’.
While on duty, the officer took her to a darkened tunnel at a Napoleonic fort on Portland, Dorset, and touched her inappropriately.
While on duty, the officer took her to a darkened tunnel at a Napoleonic fort on Portland, Dorset, and touched her inappropriately. Pictured: Portland Castle, Dorset
The most serious allegation involved the officer turning up at the woman’s flat unannounced where he sexually assaulted her.
After being let in he grabbed hold of the woman, kissed her and then lifted her up on to the breakfast bar.
He then removed her top and bra, touched her breasts and ‘dry humped’ her. The woman feared the detective would rape her.
She told the hearing how she had ‘blamed herself’ for Gravenor getting the wrong idea about their friendship.
And she said that she ‘didn’t know how to tell him no’ when he made his unwanted advances towards her.
The incident happened in 2015 but M only confided in a colleague about her ordeal three years later.
Her complaints triggered a criminal investigation but the Crown Prosecution Service found there was not enough evidence to charge Gravenor.
Instead he faced a police misconduct hearing for breaching professional standards.
The case against the detective was proven and the panel found he was guilty of gross misconduct and was sacked with immediate effect after 20 years’ service with Dorset Police.
Charles Apthorp, representing Dorset Police, said M had disclosed personal matters to him and in return he sought to ‘exploit her vulnerability for his sexual gratification.’ Pictured: Portland Castle, Dorset
The panel was told that Gravenor befriended the woman in 2015 and started off by making ‘flirty remarks’ towards her.
She told the panel: ‘He said my trousers were nice and tight and made my bum look nice.’
She added that Gravenor also confided in her about his sex life with his wife.
The woman said: ‘There were many different conversations that we had, about everything personal. Talking very in-depth about sexual things that happened, with his wife and just in general.’
Charles Apthorp, representing Dorset Police, said M had disclosed personal matters to him and in return he sought to ‘exploit her vulnerability for his sexual gratification.’
Mr Apthorp said that the most serious allegation was when the officer was off duty and he visited the woman’s flat.
She had just broken up with her partner and thought Gravenor was there as a shoulder to cry on.
Mr Apthorp said: ‘He visited M at her flat, he had not been invited, and there he committed a sexual assault on M.
‘He entered the flat, hugged her and started kissing her. He picked her up and placed her on the breakfast table – kissing and touching her.
‘All of this was unwanted contact and was wholly inappropriate.’
He added: ‘She felt weak, frightened, and was concerned she was going to be raped.
‘He removed her top and bra, he took his top off and had contact with her.’
Mr Apthorp continued: ‘She described in her evidence, feeling his dry humping.
‘It was against her wishes. The contact was unwanted, it was not consented to.’
The complainant said: ‘I convinced myself that maybe he was trying to be a good guy and making sure I was OK, because I had spoken to him a few times about my break-up and how that was affecting me.
‘I told myself he is probably just going to come over and be a friend.’
She added: ‘I blamed myself, I was in a very bad place and I thought, somehow with the banter, he had got the wrong end of the stick. I just thought it was my fault.’
‘I was scared, I did not know how to tell him no.
‘I wasn’t strong enough.’
The internal investigation into Gravenor’s conduct was carried out by Dorset Police’s Professional Standards Department.
Deputy Chief Constable David Lewis said: ‘We expect all of our officers to adhere to the highest standards of professional behaviour towards colleagues, as well as members of the public.
‘Our communities quite rightly expect these standards to be consistently upheld, and maintaining these standards is at the heart of maintaining the trust of the public, which underpins the successful policing of our county.
‘Following the allegations of the breach of these standards by DC Gravenor, our Professional Standards Department carried out a thorough investigation and the matter was referred to an independently-chaired panel to determine whether the breaches were proven and whether they amounted to gross misconduct.
‘This case demonstrates that we will not hesitate to take action against the tiny minority of officers who fail to maintain the high standards that we set and fall below what is expected of them in terms of professional behaviour.
‘It also shows that we take any reports from members of Dorset Police about inappropriate behaviour by colleagues extremely seriously and appropriate action will be taken.’