PC accused of unwanted sexual conduct, hearing told

A police officer allegedly "exposed" her female colleague's underwear and touched her inappropriately, a misconduct hearing has been told.

Chenise Austin, a police constable with Avon and Somerset Police, based in Bath, Somerset, is accused of unwanted sexual conduct on four occasions in 2023.

Barrister Kevin Baumber told the hearing at the police headquarters in Portishead that her actions were akin to "sexual assault".

Austin denies any wrongdoing, and insists her actions were "platonic, friendly, and absent of any sexual intent", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

PC Austin had played high-level women's football for Cheltenham Town, Swindon Town, West Ham United and Coventry United, the hearing was told.

Baumber said Austin's victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons but was referred to as Miss A, did not consent to any of her actions.

He added she was a straight married woman, who felt "embarrassment, discomfort and distress" but could not challenge the behaviour at the time as she felt awkward.

All four of the alleged incidents took place at work in a police station, the hearing was told.

Baumber told the misconduct panel that Austin allegedly pulled the tassels on Miss A's jogging bottoms, causing her underwear "to be exposed".

On the second occasion, the officer was alleged to have approached Miss A, who was lying on a sofa, and moved her face in as if to kiss her.

On another occasion, he said Austin placed her face on Miss A's neck, and later she placed her hands beneath her coat and pinched her.

"The pinching was deliberate and targeted," he said.

"Miss A said that if a male had behaved that way towards her, she would have punched him."

An investigation was launched when another officer reported the incidents.

The misconduct hearing continues.

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