A former Metropolitan Police officer has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a colleague while they were both on duty.

Archit Sharma was attached to the Met’s North Area Command Unit, which covers Enfield and Haringey, when he was convicted at Wood Green Crown Court on March 6.

He was found to have sexually assaulted a colleague while both were on duty on December 7, 2020.

His behaviour was described by Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, who is responsible for local policing in Enfield and Haringey, as “abhorrent” and a “betrayal” of policing values.

Sharma was jailed for 16 months at Wood Green Crown Court yesterday (June 9), and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

He was also given a restraining order which prevents him from contacting the victim for the next decade, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.

Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines said: “Former PC Sharma’s behaviour was abhorrent. His actions were a betrayal of our policing values.

“I hope that this outcome highlights how seriously we take reports of sexual offences, no matter who the perpetrator.

“Following his conviction, we began proceedings for an accelerated case hearing which has upheld the allegations of misconduct.”

On Thursday (June 8), a professional misconduct panel found that had Sharma still been serving with the Met at that time, he would have been dismissed.

He will now be added to the College of Policing barred list which will prevent him from being employed by police forces or fire and rescue services.