A councillor who patted a policewoman's bum claiming he was re-enacting the behaviour of bawdy 70s comic Benny Hill, has been cleared of sexual assault. Neville Jones targeted the female officer's posterior while she was in full uniform policing a community event before telling her: "I have always wanted to do that to a copper!"
Jones insisted the bottom tapping was "just a bit of fun" but the officer complained to colleagues that he had slapped her and they arrested Jones, who sat on Durham County Council and Great Aycliffe Council as an independent from 2021 to 2025.
Jones, who was involved with various charities and organisations, denied sexually assaulting the officer and also pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting another woman at a disco and labelled the accusations "ludicrous". And jurors at Newcastle Crown Court agreed, finding the councillor, who works as a bus driver, not guilty of both charges.
HMRC confirms £17 extra tax charges for state pensioners every month
Abandoned UK shopping village left to rot after all 40 stores close down
The court heard how Jones, who is married, was actively involved in events in his local community and when interviewed admitted he had patted her on the bottom and used words similar to "I've always wanted to do that to a copper".
The officer said she had been left in shock by the incident and felt "humiliated".
But 60-year-old Jones, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, described it as a bit of fun and explained his comments as "Benny Hill" in nature.
He told jurors: "I must have said 'Oh I've always wanted to do that', something like that."
When asked why he did it, he denied there was a sexual motive and said: "I'm a clown, it was daft" and said the claimed slap was "just a bit of fun" and insisted it was more of a "pat" than a "slap".
The second victim was at a disco when she said Jones was alleged to have pretended to fall over and place his hands on her breasts and squeezed them, then treated it like a joke. She came forward after seeing a newspaper article about the accusation made by the other woman.
Jones denied any such incident occurred between him and the second victim and labelled the allegations made against him "ludicrous".
-
Teacher struck off after calling female student 'Premier League' - kept photos of her
-
Stafford Castle golf course stabbing: Manhunt continues as knifeman at large
-
Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin makes Craig Revel Horwood admission after 'nasty' comments
-
Labour blasted for betting checks that could cause £250m losses - 'clearly unacceptable'
-
Prince William 'eyeing £500m move' as part of major estate overhaul
