City of London sergeant cleared of sexual assault

A City of London Police firearms sergeant has been cleared of sexually assaulting a female officer during a night out at a cocktail bar.

Sgt Constandino Simeonidis, 55, was accused of grabbing the woman's bottom from behind before pulling down her tights and carrying out a sexual assault.

But the officer said they had been flirting that night, any contact was consensual, and he told a jury at Inner London Crown Court that the woman "seemed completely happy".

He broke down in tears during parts of his evidence, and conceded that the incident had happened despite him being in a relationship with his partner for more than 20 years.

On Monday, Simeonidis, from Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, was found not guilty of sexual assault and assault by penetration, at the end of two trials.

The first jury to hear the case was unable to reach verdicts last year.

The court heard Simeonidis was involved in the police response to terrorist attacks in Westminster and Borough Market, and had received commendations for "exceptional service".

He qualified as a firearms officer in 2003 for Thames Valley Police, spent six years at the Metropolitan Police between 2015 and 2021, and had been in line for promotion with City of London Police in 2022 when the allegations were first made.

The complainant made a report to police in March 2023 after speaking to a friend about the night, and Simeonidis was charged in February 2024.

The woman said she had been out drinking in the City of London, but had switched to water when they reached the cocktail bar.

She claimed to have been left feeling "embarrassed" and "humiliated" after being groped by Simeonidis.

But he told the jury they had been "very flirtatious" during the evening, and said during his evidence: "It was completely consensual and friendly and nothing seemed wrong."

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