The predator police officer whose sickening behaviour has been unmasked

A drunken police officer sexually assaulted two women while on a night out, leaving one of them in tears. Paul Ledwith, 49, groped the women and pursued one of them into the ladies toilets as she tried to hide from him.

Ledwith was a 20-year veteran of Merseyside Police, and was responsible for training new officers. At the time of the assaults, which happened in Liverpool city centre on July 31 and August 1 2020, he was under investigation at work for inappropriate behaviour with a student.

He denied the offences, but was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault following a trial at Manchester Crown Court, the Liverpool ECHO reports. Sentencing Ledwith yesterday (Thursday), Judge Tom Gilbart told him: "Your behaviour was wholly reprehensible.

READ MORE: Two arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following Manchester shooting

"These women... were drunkenly preyed upon by you. You drunkenly groped them because your sexual desires were more important than their feelings. You should be utterly ashamed of yourself."

The court heard that Ledwith had attended the night out "because it gave (him) the chance to meet with attractive women", and that he behaved in a "dominant and boorish way", making sexually suggestive comments and showing other people pictures of a naked woman on his phone. As the group made their way to the Navy Bar on Stanley Street, he groped one of the women, and she told him to "f*** off".

In the bar, he groped another woman on the leg and "shadowed" her around the venue. She attempted to take refuge in the ladies toilets as one of her friends warned her not to come out as Ledwith was "hanging around the door".

However, Ledwith pursued her inside, calling her name. When she eventually left the toilet, Ledwith grabbed her hand and pulled her back to his table.

The group left the Navy Bar and "at this point (the second victim) was in tears". Ledwith then groped the first woman again and made an inappropriate comment to her.

Ms Rimmer, defending, said: "The defendant maintained his innocence at trial and he maintains that he didn't set out to sexually assault anyone, but in my submission he does make some important concessions and show insight.

"He recognises that his behaviour, over four years ago, on that night was completely unacceptable. He repeatedly crossed boundaries and he shouldn't have and it's obvious that his behaviour on that night has had a significant impact on both of (the victims), and for the consequences of his actions he is truly sorry.

"His genuine remorse and regret and motivation to make amends is set out in his pre-sentence report. It was in July 2020 when he was suspended through work, due to his own fault. He's a man who has suffered throughout his life with depression.

"He was suffering with the impact of Covid-19 (lockdown) and this was the contact of his poor decision to go out at all. His decision to drink so much was equally poor. And his choice to behave in the way he did was quite obviously poor, and he wishes he could take it back, but he can't."

The judge, however, did not accept that Ledwith had shown remorse for his actions, as he had denied the assaults in court and suggested the women had made them up. He said: "You have no relevant previous convictions, but it cannot be said you are of positive, good character, nor can it be said it was out of character, because you have crossed boundaries in the past.

"You were suffering from depression at the time and the effects of Covid-19 (lockdown). I don't accept in any way that these things lessen what you did. Millions of people suffer from poor mental health. They don't deal with it by sexually assaulting people."

Accepting that Ledwith, of Wisteria Way in St Helens, had been deemed a low risk, he sentenced the former police officer to 12 months in prison suspended for two years, 12 rehabilitation days, and 250 hours of unpaid work. He must also sign the sex offenders register, and was given restraining orders banning him from contacting his two victims.

After the hearing, Merseyside Police detective chief inspector Andy McCourt said: "This has been a long-running investigation and I'd like to thank both victims for their patience, courage and strength, both in coming forward and staying with a protracted court process. The predatory sexual behaviour of Ledwith has been unmasked, despite his denials and attempts to discredit both victims."

"The actions of Ledwith caused both of his victims fear and distress, and have had left longer-lasting effects, including anxiety, all exacerbated by their having to appear at his trial. In persistently touching, propositioning and causing fear to his victims, Ledwith showed a callous disregard for both women, and thought that he would be able to get away with this deeply concerning and criminal behaviour during a night out in the city centre. Witnesses, CCTV and a complex investigation have proved him wrong."