PC accused of biting woman's lip in Winchester nightclub

A police constable "violently" scratched a woman's throat with his fingernail and bit her lip as he kissed her in a nightclub, a disciplinary hearing has been told.

The officer, who cannot legally be named, allegedly behaved without consent towards the complainant, who he met in Vodka Bar in Winchester.

He is accused of gross misconduct over the alleged incident in October 2021.

The officer, referred to as PC X, denies behaving inappropriately.

He said he asked for consent before kissing the woman

Alan Jenkins, from Hampshire police, told the disciplinary hearing in Aldershot: "The key issues concern his actions and whether there was any consent from [the complainant] as to what he did.

"She went with him to queue at the bar for a drink and he put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her, which she felt was aggressive, since he bit her lip and forced his tongue into her mouth.

"They kissed again, when he was also aggressive, and he scratched her throat with a fingernail on two occasions."

Mr Jenkins said the woman felt "intimidated" and went to mix with others after suffering an injury to her lip.

He said PC X's actions implied "aggressive and forceful conduct", and "it also strongly implies a lack of consent on their [the complainant's] part, as well as an absence of regard for their feelings on his part".

Mr Jenkins said PC X was arrested on the night of the incident, but not charged with a criminal offence.

He said PC X "vehemently" denied doing anything wrong and told police: "We're just having a chat, having a laugh and just ended up...I ended up kissing her and I spoke to her. I was like, 'Are you sure? Are you happy with this?' And she nodded."

The hearing continues.

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