Met Police Inspector Dave Newman on Trial for Alleged Sexual Assaults in Soho

A Metropolitan Police inspector is standing trial at Southwark Crown Court, accused of sexually assaulting three female colleagues during a night out in Soho in 2023. Dave Newman, 39, from Luton, denies all three counts of sexual assault.

One of the complainants, a junior officer, gave evidence from behind a screen on Tuesday. She described feeling 'like a piece of meat' after Newman allegedly grabbed her vagina above her clothing in a busy bar. The incident left her feeling 'disgusting', she told the court.

Complainant Describes Incident in Court

The complainant recounted how Newman had been watching her on the dancefloor before attempting to dance with her. She said she felt uncomfortable but tried to remain amicable due to the rank difference between them. 'I didn’t want to be rude but equally I didn’t want to feel uncomfortable,' she told the court.

She described Newman’s hands moving up and down her back before he attempted to whisper in her ear. As she walked away, she said she felt a 'thud' as his hand grabbed her vagina in a 'cupping motion'. 'I just froze, I didn’t know where to look, or what to do,' she testified.

The complainant reported the incident the following day via the 101 non-emergency police line. She told the court she considered whether to report it at all, fearing the impact on her career. 'I was torn whether I was going to go through and report it or whether I would just carry on working with him,' she said.

Trial Continues

Two other women have also accused Newman of sexual assault during the same night. One alleges he grabbed her vagina above her clothing, while another says he touched her bottom. The trial is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with Newman maintaining his innocence on all charges.

The identities of the complainants are protected as they are alleged victims of sexual assault. The court has not yet reached a verdict.