GMP officer cleared of sexual assault to face misconduct investigation by force

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A GMP officer cleared by a jury of sexual assault will face a misconduct investigation by the force.

Daniel Lasley, a student officer, was found not guilty at Preston Crown Court after a four-day trial.

But in a statement Greater Manchester Police said: “GMP respects the decision of the jury. Now that criminal proceedings are complete, the matter will be dealt with by GMP’s Professional Standards Branch under Misconduct Regulations.”

The assault was alleged to have taken place in Manchester city centre.

Mrl Lasley was alleged to have groped the woman’s breasts and unfastened her jeans while she was unconscious in a taxi on the evening of November 11, 2019.

The 34-year-old former Royal Marine and then trainee police officer previously denied sexual assault.

A jury found him not guilty after less than two hours deliberating.



Preston Crown Court

The trial previously heard Mr Lasley had been out drinking with police colleagues in the Spinningfields area, before meeting the woman near the end of the night.

Jurors were told that at the beginning of the evening, Mr Lasley had said to one of his colleagues; ‘let’s go on the pull tonight,’ referring to chatting up women.

CCTV played in court later showed 6ft 4ins Mr Lasley picking up the petite woman and carrying her, with her legs around his waist, as they kissed passionately.

Friends of the complainant, whose identity can’t be revealed for legal reasons, described her as being ‘very drunk’ and at times unable to stand.

The woman told the court she remembered very little about the night, and had no recollection of Daniel Lasley or ever speaking to him.

Preston Crown Court heard how the pair later got in a taxi together on Hardman Street, with Mr Lasley asking the driver to take them to the nearest Travelodge.

The taxi driver alleged that Mr Lasley was ‘touching her all over’ and claimed he saw him unzip her jeans.

Mr Lasley denied sexually assaulting the woman, and maintained that all contact between the two of them was mutual.

Giving evidence, he told the court: “She was grabbing my shirt and jacket and pulling me into her – no-one unconscious could do that.”

He said he asked the woman if she wanted to go somewhere, and she murmured in agreement.

Mr Lasley said: “His (the taxi driver) attitude changed towards me.

“He said, ‘you just want to have sex with her.’ I was shocked at that. I was shocked at him coming out and saying that.”

The trial heard that Mr Lasley walked away briefly before returning to the taxi where the woman remained.

Her top was pulled down, showing her bra, and the zip of her jeans was open, the jury was told.

Mr Lasley said he couldn’t explain how it happened, but denied being responsible.

He was arrested and taken to Longsight police station where he continued to deny sexually assaulting the woman

Mr Lasley told jurors: “There was no sexual activity at all during the whole time I was with her and everything that happened, the kissing was mutual.”

During his evidence, Mr Lasley told the jury he had always dreamed of becoming a police officer – following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

He said he was shocked to be described as “a monster” by the taxi driver as he would never do anything like that.

Mr Lasley told jurors “the most I have ever done is kiss my partner on her forehead while she is asleep.”

He sobbed as he said he would “never take advantage of anyone”.

Mr Lasley, of Boothby Street, Stockport, has been suspended from Greater Manchester Police since the time of the complaint in November 2019.


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