A serving Northumbria Police officer, Albert Jardine, sexually assaulted a civilian and stated, ‘I can evade consequences; I am a PC, no one would believe you.’
Albert Jardine was a police constable stationed in Newcastle when he engaged in “lewd and disgusting” conduct towards her.
A court was informed that he would frequently seize and sexually assault her, thrusting against her, and on one occasion, he doused her blouse with water to provide a wet T-shirt effect.
The conduct of the Northumbria Police officer was reported to an inspector, and the professional standards department conducted an investigation but did not take any action; Albert Jardine subsequently retired on medical grounds.
Years later, his victim, inspired by the resolution of other historical cases, summoned the fortitude to report him.
Albert Jardine, a 79-year-old great-grandfather from Millbrook, Felling, Gateshead, was found guilty of indecent assault by a jury and has received a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court. It is unknown if he has been assaulting family members too.
Christopher Rose, prosecuting, said: “She described how he would come up behind her, grab her and hold her tight. Others spoke of him doing something like a bear hug. When he did it with her, she could feel he was aroused and he pressed himself up against her.
“He also did it from the front, pressing up against her groin and making thrusting motions as if having sex. He would often make lewd comments and jokes.”
The prosecutor added: “When it was investigated at the time, one of the complaints that arose was that the defendant had thrown water at her chest so as to create a wet T-shirt effect. The complainant reported when spoken to by senior officers at the time that the defendant said ‘I can get away with it, I’m a PC, no-one will believe you’. It was that impression she had that meant she didn’t complain sooner.”
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “The actions of Albert Jardine have stayed with me more than 33 years. Despite trying to put it behind me. On a daily basis I see his grinning face in my mind.
“At the time I felt embarrassed and alone.” She said she was left wanting answers to questions including: “Why did he treat me like that? Why did the police allow it to happen to me?
“I still feel aggrieved he treated me like he did and the police allowed me to be treated like that.”
Albert Jardine was convicted after trial of indecent assault spanning a year in the early 1990s, on the basis there were not less than two separate incidents.
Albert Jardine was sentenced to eight months suspended for 18 months and must pay £3,000 towards the cost of the prosecution, at £150 a month. [TYPICAL POLICE BS SENTENCE]
Sentencing him, Judge Julie Clemitson said: “The specific offences have to be seen in the context of your general behaviour towards her, which describes as generally lewd and disgusting, beyond what could be described as acceptable, even then. She said you were quite a nice man if you sat and talked to her but had no respect for her or women generally.”
The judge said the offending was reported by another police officer at the time to an inspector and the force’s professional standards department investigated but it “came to nothing” and very shortly afterwards he took early retirement due to ill health.
Police Lover, Judge Clemitson said the woman eventually found the courage to come forward after seeing other people report historical cases. She added: “She said she just wanted you to explain yourself, she wanted an answer from you. That she didn’t get because you denied it at trial and you deny it still.”
She added: “The offences were committed in the context of degrading or humiliating conduct.
“You were working as a serving police officer at the time. Any member of the public was entitled to trust that you would protect them rather than harm them. Instead you violated that trust and risked damaging public trust in the police generally.”
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