London Met inspector convicted of sexual assault

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-11 15:47 3 min read

Metropolitan Police car with blue flashing lights on a dark London street at night.

By Beehive Web Newsdesk | Published 11 August 2026

A serving Metropolitan Police inspector has been convicted of sexually assaulting a woman during a night out with colleagues in central London.

Inspector Michael Richards, 40, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, 10 August following a week-long trial. He is due to return to the same court for sentencing on Friday, 25 September.

Richards, who is attached to the Met’s Learning and Development Command, will also face an accelerated misconduct hearing. That process is separate from the criminal case and will address the professional consequences of his conduct as a police officer.

Jury returns a split verdict

Richards stood trial on two counts of sexual assault. The jury convicted him on one count involving a woman and acquitted him of the other count.

London Met inspector convicted of sexual assault

The Metropolitan Police announcement confirms the verdict and sentencing date but does not provide further detail about the conduct underlying the count on which Richards was convicted. It also does not include the evidence heard during the trial or the jury’s reasons, which are not normally given with a verdict.

The criminal case has therefore completed its verdict stage, but it has not concluded. The court will decide Richards’ sentence at the September hearing. No sentencing outcome was announced alongside the conviction.

Leicester Square incident and arrest

The case arose from an incident on Wednesday, 17 September 2024 at a pub near Leicester Square. Police were called following reports that Richards had touched the bottoms of a man and a woman while he was out with colleagues.

Richards was arrested and interviewed before being released on bail while officers continued their enquiries. The Met also suspended him from duty.

He was subsequently charged on Sunday, 25 May with two counts of sexual assault. After the week-long trial, the jury held him criminally responsible for one alleged assault while clearing him of the second allegation.

The colleagues present that night also formed part of the Met’s official response to the outcome. The force said they had challenged Richards’ behaviour and helped to hold him accountable.

Sentencing and misconduct proceedings

Two separate proceedings are now confirmed. Richards will first be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, 25 September. He will also face an accelerated misconduct hearing concerning his position and conduct within the Metropolitan Police.

The force has not announced a date for the misconduct hearing or stated what professional outcome may follow. The hearing is distinct from sentencing: the court will determine the criminal penalty, while the misconduct process will consider the matter under the standards expected of police officers.

Metropolitan Police response

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, from the Met’s People Directorate, said Richards’ behaviour had fallen “well below” the standards expected of officers.

“I would like to thank Inspector Richards’ colleagues who called out his behaviour that night and held him accountable,” Wilson said.

“We continue to encourage officers and staff to call out poor behaviour both on and off-duty.”

The next confirmed milestone is Richards’ sentencing at Southwark Crown Court on 25 September. The timing of the accelerated misconduct hearing remains unannounced.

Source: Metropolitan Police News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report was prepared from the Metropolitan Police statement recording the verdict, case chronology and confirmed next proceedings.

Checks