Policeman cleared of sex claims

A policeman from Devon who was arrested and suspended from duty over allegations of sexual assault has been cleared of any offence.

The unnamed constable was alleged to have carried out the offence on 7 May.

However an investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service has revealed there is insufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) had investigated the claims and sent a report to the CPS.

As the investigation found that no further action should be taken, the officer involved will now be returning to work.

'Unsubstantiated allegations'

IPCC Commissioner Ian Bynoe said: "This has been a very difficult time for the officer subject to these serious allegations and the two investigations have concluded that these allegations are unsubstantiated."

According to Commissioner Bynoe the person who made the allegations claimed there was evidence stored on a computer and mobile telephone.

However, this was never presented and the items "subsequently went missing from the complainant's home address in unusual circumstances", he said.

Commissioner Bynoe added that the same officer had also been subject to an earlier IPCC investigation into other allegations from the same complainant but because of lack of evidence that investigation was ended in December 2007.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have carried out a very thorough investigation, managed by the IPCC, into allegations involving an officer in the force.

"As this investigation has found that no further action should be taken, the officer involved will now be returning to work."