A former Metropolitan Police officer has been handed a two-year prison sentence for a brazen and degrading public sex offence that has sent shockwaves through the force and the public.
Benjamin Griggs, 35, formerly based at Bethnal Green police station, was found guilty of outraging public decency after targeting an unsuspecting woman on a bustling central London street.
The Shocking Incident
The court heard how Griggs, who was off-duty at the time, followed the victim on Charing Cross Road before committing the lewd act directly behind her. The traumatic event unfolded in a highly public area, with numerous witnesses present.
Despite initially fleeing the scene, Griggs was identified and apprehended following a thorough police investigation. His actions were described as predatory and calculated by prosecutors.
A Betrayal of Trust
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in the area where Griggs was stationed, expressed his disgust at the former officer's actions. He emphasised that Griggs had profoundly betrayed the values of the Metropolitan Police and the public trust placed in officers.
'The public will be rightly appalled to hear about this former officer's actions,' Conway stated. 'He has utterly betrayed everything we stand for and there is no place in the Met for anyone who behaves in this way.'
Swift Dismissal and Sentencing
Griggs was dismissed from the Metropolitan Police in December 2022 following a misconduct hearing that found his actions amounted to gross misconduct. This dismissal preceded his criminal sentencing.
At Westminster Magistrates' Court, he received a 24-month custodial sentence and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years, acknowledging the severity of his crime and its impact on the victim.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct and the mechanisms in place to address offences committed by those entrusted with public safety.
