- Sylvia Cooper was found not guilty of eight counts of sexual assault
- The court heard how she ‘broke down in tears’ when she learned of the charges
- The gay police community support officer was described as an ‘asset to the service’
By
Daily Mail Reporter
07:20 EST, 15 May 2012
|
07:59 EST, 15 May 2012
Innocent: Miss Cooper admitted to being ‘cheeky’ but denied any wrongdoing – she was cleared of all charges
A lesbian police community support officer who was accused of groping five colleagues sobbed in court after she was cleared of all charges.
Sylvia Cooper, 45, said she wanted to get back to an ordinary life following her ‘two year nightmare’ and accused her fellow cops of making the allegations because they were jealous of her success.
She was accused of groping three female officers’ breasts and bottoms, as well as grabbing the genitals of two male cops.
Miss Cooper was also accused of propositioning a female colleague by asking her if she ‘fancied a shag’.
Miss Cooper, who was a PCSO with West Midlands Police for five years before she was forced to resign, told the jury at Warwick Crown Court she had been ‘shocked and horrified’ when she learned of the allegations made against her by two female PCSOs, two male police constables and a male PCSO.
Two days before the allegations were put to her, Cooper had been presented with a Women in Policing award in front of about 200 people.
The jury found Miss Cooper, of Stourbridge, West Mids, not guilty of eight counts of sexual assault after deliberating for seven hours and 41 minutes.
Innocent Cooper had worked in the prison service for more than ten years and then for a security firm until joining the police as a PCSO in the West Midlands in August 2005.
During her four-day trial Miss Cooper was described as ‘a credit to the service’.
But Miss Cooper told the court there had been ‘a hell of a lot of jealousy’ after she got the award, which she had been recommended by her sergeant.
She told defence barrister Martin Steen: ‘I broke down in tears. I couldn’t believe it, I was so shocked and horrified.’
Miss Cooper admitted being ‘cheeky’
and giving one of her female colleagues ‘a childhood flick on the
bottom’ as they walked up a flight of stairs at a police station.
She also admitted joking with a male
colleague that he had a ‘nice package’ when he walked into police
station wearing a pair of cycling shorts.
Miss Cooper mouthed ‘thank you’ to the jury and sobbed with relief as the verdict was read out on Monday.
‘Hell of a lot of jealously’ – Miss Cooper believes the the true reason behind the allegations was envy
Outside court Miss Cooper accused her colleagues of falsely accusing her because they were jealous of her because she won a prestigious policing award.
She said: ‘I’m grateful to the jury for their careful deliberations.
‘I was falsely accused by some who were resentful that I had been put forward for the Women in Policing community award.
‘The last two years have been a nightmare. I hope I may now be allowed to continue my life in the ordinary way.’
Her partner Rebecca Morris added: ‘At last. It’s been two years. It should never have got here.’
-
‘You don’t mess with your grandmother’: Princes William and… -
Sexy photograph of Madonna posing naked on a bed while… -
Down boy, down! Hilarious pictures of the giant dogs that… -
The Zodiac killer ‘identified’: Infamous Sixties murderer is… -
No nightmares and no remorse: Connecticut home invasion… -
Why man’s best friend is also his worst photobomber:… -
Steve Wynn buys $70MILLION New York penthouse that used to… -
Good thing it’s cable! Reporter caught making embarrassing… -
‘Cremate me with my kids’: Chilling last text of crazed… -
‘I just have to roll with the punches’: Inspirational… -
Police discover horrific murder scene after passerby finds… -
Judge orders man who paid accountant’s £800 bill with…
Share this article:
Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.
The comments below have been moderated in advance.
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
Robert, Norfolk, 15/05/2012 13:32
Err, police officers and pcso’s are taxpayers too you know!!
Report abuse
Well I’m glad she can now put this behind her but will she get her job back after all she was very good at her job … Or is her career over like many others after false accusations … So her work mates know she is a lesbian but go as far as saying she assaulted male members of staff too … Come off it it sounds like you all had a problem with her as most of ur evidence was weak iv heard worse than what you have described in most work places and it’s all taken in jest as is the intention … If someone really is being targeted at work sexualy then it would be one person not a whole staff room !!!
Report abuse
I think Ms Copper should be compensated for having her name and reputation flawed and the officers who made the allegations should be made to pay the costs and have there names bought to light.
Report abuse
Absolutly typical CPS charging because of what nonsence the police tell then rather than reading the full case and comming to an informed decission. The CPS were given the task of deciding who should be charged several years ago as the police were not capable of deciding and making willy nilly decissions on charge. Now things are back to where they were. The CPS follow the officers opinion regardless of the evidence especially in sexaul and domestic violence cases.
Report abuse
I cannot believe that this even got to court, i think that the officers who made the allegations should be made to pay the costs and Ms Cooper be compensated for having no choice but to resign from her job and have her name and reputation flawed.
Report abuse
I cannot believe that it took this case two years to get to court. Ms Cooper must have been going through hell waiting that long. It should never have got to court in the first place , i”m sure this could have been sorted out at station level. In my opinion i think Ms Cooper should be compensated as she had no choice but to resign from her job and her excellent reputation had been flawed , i also think that the officers who made the allegations should be charged.
Report abuse
2 years for this to be resolved is atrocious !!
Report abuse
I hate people who do unappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature and call it ‘only joking’!
Report abuse
i feel sorry for any women being envious of that – ewwwwwwwwwwww
Report abuse
jealous??? hahaha oh dear should have gone to specsavers
Report abuse
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.