Met Officers Avoid Jail After Casino Sex Assault

_{Jerome Beasley and Luke Robinson were dismissed from the Met Police after sexually assaulting a woman at the Hippodrome Casino. (Image: Alan Evans/Casinos.com)}

A former Metropolitan Police officer from North Harrow has received a suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a woman in a central London casino while off duty.

Jerome Beasley, 43, and Luke Robinson, 40, were both sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a series of sexual assaults that occurred at the Hippodrome Casino near Leicester Square in April 2024.

Assault Took Place on Casino Rooftop Bar

The incident happened in the early hours of 22 April 2024, when the two officers were socialising off duty. While at the Hippodrome’s rooftop bar, Beasley and Robinson repeatedly groped a woman’s breasts as she asked them to stop.

CCTV footage played in court showed the men touching the victim multiple times, visibly ignoring her protests and continuing in clear view of other patrons.

Both officers were arrested and later charged, Beasley with four counts of sexual assault and Robinson with three. They initially pleaded not guilty but changed their pleas shortly before the trial began.

_{Luke Robinson (l) and Jerome Beasley (r). (Image: Matropolitan Police)}

Suspended Sentences and Police Dismissal

Judge Mark Weekes described their behaviour as “obviously offensive to all right-thinking people” during sentencing. He handed Beasley an 18-month prison term and Robinson a 15-month sentence, both suspended for two years.

The court also imposed 250 hours of unpaid work on each man, a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and an overnight curfew lasting five months. They were further ordered to pay £750 in compensation to the victim and £150 in court costs, and received five-year restraining orders.

 “There is, rightly, grave public concern at present concerning conduct of officers of the Metropolitan Police,” Weekes said in court.

“Your actions not only shame yourselves directly, but cause embarrassment and frustration for the vast majority of those serving who do uphold the high standards of behaviour that the public expect from the police.” 

Following the assault, both Beasley and Robinson were dismissed from the Metropolitan Police’s Central West Command Unit.

Met Police Condemns “Inexcusable” Conduct

In a statement after sentencing, Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah called the officers’ actions “inexcusable.”

“There is no room in the Met, or in any workplace, for those who think acting in this way is acceptable,” Jessah said. 

“We know behaviour like this seriously undermines public trust and confidence in the Met, which is why we are continuing our work to relentlessly pursue and remove those staff who fail to meet our standards.” 

Case Highlights Deminshing Trust in Met Police

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the behaviour of police officers and public trust in the Metropolitan Police, especially in the wake of multiple high-profile misconduct cases. The suspended sentences and the decision not to impose immediate jail time may also spark debate about accountability for those in positions of authority. The setting of the crime, a public, high-profile casino, adds further weight to public interest in how law enforcement personnel conduct themselves off duty.