Police officer sentenced over sexual assaults

A former police officer who admitted sexually assaulting colleagues has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Alex Trusler, 36, who was a response officer with the Staffordshire force, had pleaded guilty in July to four counts of sexual assault against three women.

On Tuesday at Northampton Crown Court he was told by judge Rebecca Crane that his "leacherous and predatory" behaviour - some of which happened in the workplace - had not only affected his victims but also undermined public confidence in policing.

He was given a 42-week prison term, suspended for 18 months.

Staffordshire Police said Trusler had been suspended as soon as the allegations were reported.

The court heard he had since been barred from policing.

All Trusler's assaults involved touching over clothing, with one incident involving a kiss, the court heard.

Offences against one victim occured in the workplace, the others on a night out.

In a personal impact statement read in court, one victim said: "I've never been made to feel so uncomfortable in my life."

Another said they had not wanted to be on their own with Trusler, and the aftermath of the incident had taken a lot of time to process.

Trusler had worked in the prison service and as a PCSO before becoming a PC in 2020.

Judge Rebecca Crane said he had offered apologies and was remorseful, and had "thrown away" a long career.

As conditions of the suspended sentence, Trusler must carry out rehabiliatation activity, and 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, and pay compensation of £600 to each of the three victims.

In a statement released in July, Deputy Chief Constable Caroline Marsh said his actions had been "a fundamental betrayal of the standards every member of Staffordshire Police is expected to uphold."

She added: "The moment these allegations were reported, he was suspended and a thorough investigation by our Anti‑Corruption Unit began.

"His guilty pleas reflect the seriousness of his behaviour, which has no place in policing."

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