An officer who sexually assaulted three woman in a bar in Hitchin has been banned from policing.

PC Andrew Wild attacked the three women on a night out at Osinsky's Bar & Grill in Market Place on March 30, 2022.

The 51-year-old smacked one of the women on the bottom as she was bending over a pool table, before grabbing a second woman's bottom when she was in front of him on the stairs in the pub.

Wild, who was an initial contact officer dealing with the victims of sexual assault, then smacked a third victim, again on the bottom, as they walked to Hitchin Train Station from the bar.

After the officer was was convicted of three counts of sexual assault by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on May 22 this year, Herts police have now decided to ban him from policing following a misconduct hearing.

"It is very serious that PC Wild has a criminal conviction for sexual assault as a result of his behaviour towards three females," said Hertfordshire Constabulary Chief Constable Charlie Hall.

"Policing is here to protect women and investigate criminality. It is not acceptable for police officers to be perpetrators of sexual assault.

"I have no doubt that his convictions have the potential to undermine further public confidence in policing. I also need to clearly demonstrate to the workforce that such behaviour will not be tolerated to deter future such behaviour.

"PC Wild's case is so serious that I find the only reasonable sanction I can impose is to dismiss him from the police service without notice and to request that his name is added to the College of Policing barred list."

Wild was bailed ahead by Southwark Crown Court ahead of sentencing on September 2.