BEDWORTH POLICE SERGEANT JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT

A police officer from Bedworth, Colin Jones, was sentenced to nine months in jail after being found guilty of indecent assault. Jones, who served as a sergeant at the town's police station, was convicted of abusing his position of trust to commit two cases of indecent assault against a woman. The offences occurred in the Weddington area of Nuneaton between 1999 and 2003. After a 13-day trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Dudley sentenced Jones to jail and ordered him to register as a sex offender for 10 years. The judge stated, "You were a community beat officer - that is how you came to know the complainant, a lady with quite serious medical problems over a number of years. On two occasions for which you are sentenced, you took advantage of her and abused your position of trust." Jones, who was suspended from duty in January 2006, now faces removal from the Warwickshire Police force. A Warwickshire Police spokesman confirmed that the disciplinary process was nearing completion. Deputy Chief Constable Andy Parker commented, "Sergeant Colin Jones held a position of trust, authority and respect within the community he served. He breached that trust and preyed on a vulnerable member of our community." Parker emphasized the importance of victims feeling confident to report serious crimes and praised the victim for her courage during the investigation and trial.