A Greater Manchester Police sergeant has been demoted to constable after making a string of rude and sexualised comments to junior female colleagues during a boozy works night out. Sergeant Gareth Higginbottom was found guilty of gross misconduct but escaped the sack after the disciplinary panel accepted his 'genuine remorse' and rated the harm he caused as 'medium' rather than 'high'.
Incident with PC A
The disciplinary hearing, chaired by Assistant Chief Officer Jonathan Roy, revealed that Higginbottom had a 'consensual sexual encounter' with a colleague, referred to as PC A, in May 2023. At the time, Higginbottom was a constable about to be promoted to sergeant. He asked PC A not to mention the encounter to colleagues as it would be 'awkward' given his upcoming promotion to her boss. The woman agreed.
Months later, on August 30, 2023, after a boozy 'social event', PC A asked Higginbottom if he had ever revealed their encounter as they made their way to a McDonald's. He responded: 'Why would I tell someone that I slept with someone and then they f***ed me off the next day?' The woman decided to go home instead of visiting McDonald's as she 'felt unwell'. Higginbottom then asked her: 'Why don't you come back to my house and I will drop you home tomorrow?' She declined.
When PC A checked her phone in the early hours of the next day, she saw two missed calls and a string of messages on iMessage, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook from Higginbottom. One message timed at 1.50am read: 'Slagggggg. Upset because what you wanted went home. Can’t be arsed with you mate. Feel like such a f***ing mug, wanting to make amends so you can crack on with other people. Mithered about what other supervision thing, only yourself to blame. You’re actually angin mate. Don’t rely, can’t be dealing with skets.' The tribunal heard that 'angin' and 'skets' are slang terms for ugly and promiscuous people, respectively.
Incident with PC B
During the same night out, Higginbottom also abused another female officer, referred to as PC B. After PC B admitted she had kissed another colleague while in a relationship with someone else, Higginbottom made vile sexual remarks about what the two officers she mentioned would do to her. He repeatedly referenced this during the rest of the evening. PC B dismissed the language as 'banter', the hearing was told.
The panel ruled that Higginbottom told PC B: 'Don't worry PC B I'd f*** you.' PC B reported the comment to a colleague, who challenged Higginbottom. He then apologised.
Incident with PC C
On another works night out on March 7, 2024, a third female officer, PC C, began speaking to a group of males who told her they had concluded, following a conversation with Higginbottom earlier that night, that he was 'rude'. Later, Higginbottom approached PC C and told her: 'I've told those lads that you're not the type of girl to go home with them and f*** them if that's your plan.' PC C told investigators she didn't respond but thought the comments 'highly inappropriate and unsolicited'.
Panel's Decision
The disciplinary panel found Higginbottom's conduct towards the three female officers was 'serious, deliberate and targeted' and his abuse of PC A was also 'malign'. The panel ruled he had 'failed to act as a role model' as sergeant and was guilty of gross misconduct. However, they decided against sacking him because the harm he caused was rated as 'medium' rather than 'high' and he had shown 'genuine remorse'.
The panel concluded: 'The panel considered that the proven conduct demonstrated poor leadership that fell far below the standard expected of a sergeant. In all the circumstances, the panel having applied the structured approach considered that the most appropriate outcome is reduction in rank.'
