Matthew Crane Eastbourne Police Officer

Matthew Crane Eastbourne Police OfficerMatthew Crane Eastbourne Police Officer

A jury has delivered a not guilty finding and a hung jury decision on an Eastbourne Police Officer, Matthew Crane, charged with sexual assault.

Matthew Crane, 48, a Sergeant stationed in Eastbourne detention, has entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of sexual assault by touching.

The court was informed that the purported offences transpired between September 16 and 19, 2023, when the officer was on duty.

The issue was submitted to the Independent Office of Police Conduct, which mandated a local inquiry by the Professional Standards Department, a department within Sussex Police.

On Tuesday, September 9, at Croydon Crown Court, a jury acquitted Matthew Crane of one allegation and delivered a hung jury judgement on the other accusation.

A determination will be made by Wednesday, 24 September, regarding the pursuit of a retrial following the hung jury verdict.


If you or anyone you know has been affected by the people highlighted on this website, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report to Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.