Meridian detective

Amateur sleuths have been given the chance to do their own detective work at a mock crime scene in Portsmouth. It was part of an open day designed to give people the chance to learn more about the use of forensics. Richard Jones reports.

A Metropolitan Police detective from Kent who sexually assaulted two women in their own homes while on duty has been jailed for 12 months.

Detective Constable Clifford Earl, 57, molested a vulnerable and distressed innocent woman after police had arrested her partner in a dawn raid, having remained behind alone to comfort her and take a statement.

The married father-of-two from Sittingbourne also assaulted another woman who reported the theft of her son's bike. Sentencing Earl, Judge Michael Gledhill said the sentence was an "act of mercy" because of his wife's ongoing illness. Earl will serve six months before being released on licence.