UK: London Met Police Officer sacked for “Spanking” 12 year old girl out of sexual motivations

A London Metropolitan Police officer has been sacked after a misconduct panel found he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old child by “spanking her bare bottom on numerous occasions”.

The hearing found Ross Benson had been accused of smacking the girl between April and August 2018, the Met said.

The force added the child was known to him and that there was a sexual element to the spanking, which happened when he was off duty.

Following the disciplinary hearing, Mr Benson was dismissed without notice and placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing.

The Met said Bedfordshire Police arrested Mr Benson on suspicion of sexual assault in November 2020, but in September 2021 he was informed no further action would be taken.