A former police officer who sexually assaulted a woman while on duty and in full uniform has avoided jail time.

Lucas Webbon-Powell inappropriately touched his victim over her clothes without consent while working in Tonbridge in April 2021.

Upon the allegations being reported, he was immediately suspended and later charged with sexual assault.

Despite Webbon-Powell having previously denied the offence, a jury at Woolwich Crown Court saw through his lies and found him guilty.

The sexual offender avoided a prison sentence when on March 3, Sarah Alice Whitehouse KC handed down a two-year non-custodial sentence. But he will be on the sex offenders register for the next five years.

He will also have to complete a 30-day rehabilitation order and a 30-day sexual offending programme.

Following the guilty verdict, internal disciplinary proceedings continued.

On March 22, a damning report found his actions constitute gross misconduct.

Chief Constable Tim Smith, who conducted the police misconduct hearing, said: “This offence was committed by former PC Webbon-Powell while he was on duty, in full uniform.

“A police officer being convicted of such a serious, sexually motivated criminal offence is highly likely to seriously undermine public trust and confidence.

“Perhaps even more so given recent events and the very intense focus of the public on how police officers behave, particularly in relation to sexual misconduct.”

Webbon-Powell resigned from Kent Police on March 5, but in any case, Chief Con Smith said he would have been dismissed without noticed.

“Lucas Webbon-Powell betrayed his profession and the trust of the public we serve..."

“I could not see any circumstance where his continued employment could, or would, be tolerated by the public," he added.

When asked by KentOnline how Webbon-Powell’s crime reflected on Kent Police as a whole, DCS Jon Armory, head of professional standards, said: “The vast majority of our officers serve the public with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

“Lucas Webbon-Powell betrayed his profession and the trust of the public we serve.

“We are determined to pursue and remove anyone from the ranks of the force who feels they are above the law.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victim in this case for coming forward quickly to report what had happened to her, allowing us to take immediate action to arrest and suspend Webbon-Powell.

“We do not hesitate to take action when someone’s behaviour falls short of what is expected of them.”