Met Inspector Dave Newman denies sexually assaulting three officers in Soho

A Metropolitan Police inspector appeared at Southwark Crown Court this week accused of sexually assaulting three female officers during a night out in Soho last year. Dave Newman, 39, from Luton, denies three counts of sexual assault. The alleged incidents occurred on a dance floor in 2023, as reported by the *Evening Standard*.

The court heard that Newman allegedly 'grabbed, groped, stroked, and pinched his way around the dance floor', according to prosecutors. Two of the complainants say he grabbed them in the vaginal area above their clothing. A third woman alleges he touched her bottom. All three women are serving officers, and their identities are protected.

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First complainant describes feeling 'like a piece of meat'

The first complainant, a junior officer, gave evidence on Tuesday. She told the court that Newman’s alleged actions left her feeling 'like a piece of meat'. She said, 'I wasn’t asking for it, you know, I felt disgusting, he didn’t have a right to touch me there.' The woman reported the incident to the police non-emergency line, 101, the following day.

The officer described feeling 'torn' about whether to report Newman, fearing the impact on her career. She said another colleague at the bar warned her against making a complaint, telling her, 'He’s very drunk, you know, he’s a good man, you need to think about what you’re saying.' The woman said the comment made her feel pressured, as if her complaint could 'have a big impact on him'.

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I just froze, I didn’t know where to look, or what to do.

First complainant, junior Met Police officer

The complainant said Newman had been staring at her on the dance floor, making her uncomfortable. She recalled, 'I could see his eyes on my chest. I could see he was trying to get close to me and dance with me.' She described attempting to keep the peace due to Newman’s senior rank, briefly dancing with him before walking away.

She said she felt Newman’s hands 'going up and down the back of my body' before he attempted to whisper in her ear. As she walked away, she said she felt 'a hand grab my vagina, it was like a thud, like a cupping motion'. The woman said she froze and did not know how to react.

What happens next

The trial at Southwark Crown Court is ongoing. Newman remains on denial of all three charges. It is unclear when the jury will reach a verdict. The Metropolitan Police has not commented on the case while legal proceedings are active, as reported by the *Evening Standard*.