Police sergeant dismissed for sexual assault

Gross misconduct has been proven against a police sergeant who sexually assaulted a woman.

Sgt Leo Boateng, based on the Central West Command, will be dismissed from the Met without notice after a panel found he had breached various standards of professional behaviour.

On Sunday, 20 November 2022, while off duty, Sgt Boateng subjected a woman to a serious sexual assault at a south London address.

The incident was reported to police on Saturday, 28 January 2023. Sgt Boateng was arrested the same day and suspended from duty.

During interview Sgt Boateng misled interviewing officers about the whereabouts of a mobile phone belonging to him, and gave a deliberately false account regarding an email containing messages between himself and the victim.

He was later charged with rape but was acquitted at court in December 2024.

Detective Superintendent Alexandra Bingley, from Central West, said: “Sgt Boateng’s actions were despicable, made all the worse by his deceit in attempting to cover them up. It is the victim who has led us to this point, and I want to thank them for their bravery in coming forward. Despite Sgt Boateng being found not guilty at court we have still been able to prove gross misconduct and remove him from the organisation. We continue our drive to improve culture and standards across the Met to build trust.”

The panel found that Sgt Boateng had breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct and honesty and integrity, and he was dismissed without notice.

He will be added to the barred list held by the College of Policing, preventing future employment within policing and certain oversight bodies.