Policeman cleared of vice assaults

It was claimed the offences took place in Middlesbrough

A police officer has been cleared of picking up prostitutes and indecently assaulting them in the back of his patrol van.

Darren Dolan, 33, an officer with Cleveland Police, was found not guilty of four counts of indecent assault following a week-long trial at Hull Crown Court.

The prosecution alleged the officer had attacked four prostitutes in the back of the police van, during an evening patrol in Middlesbrough on 21 January 2001.

The court heard that he had recorded four stop and searches that night, but each one was noted down as searching the women's outer garments only.

Mr Dolan, who denied the charges, said he had not assaulted anyone that night and would never get into the back of the vehicle with anyone, as a matter of personal safety.

Some people in the public gallery burst into tears as the jury foreman read out the verdicts.