A British Transport Police officer convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend while under a court restraining order has been sacked to win back the trust of women, his boss said.
PC Ben Godwin, 45, lunged at the victim with “gritted teeth and dark eyes”, it was said.
The attack on her happened at his home in Gravesend, Kent in May last year.
Godwin was subject to a 12-month non-molestation order at the time, an accelerated misconduct hearing heard.
Whilst he claimed to be suffering from mental health problems, the panel found “that alone cannot excuse criminal conduct”.
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: “Police officers have a responsibility to uphold, not break, the law.
“It saddens me that the career of an officer with nearly two decades of service to BTP should end in this way.”
Despite pleading not guilty, Godwin, now of Eltham, south east London, was convicted of common assault following a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 1, according to official records.
He was acquitted of harassing the same female by sending “repeated and unwanted” messages “as well as attending places she was likely to be” between May 18 and June 13, 2023.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
Ms D’Orsi found Godwin’s conviction alone breached standards of professional behaviour to a gross misconduct level.
Police have a duty to protect the public and any officer engaging in such conduct is clearly discreditable, she said.
Ms D’Orsi added: “As to harm, I consider both the direct harm (or potential harm) caused to the victim of the assault, and also indirect harm, in that conduct of this sort undermines the trust and confidence the public expect to be able to put in the police.
“I consider it an aggravating factor that this assault took place in a domestic context.
“The duty of officers to protect the public very much extends to that context and there is considerable focus on combatting violence and intimidation against women and girls, and misconduct in such a context is not compatible with BTP’s values and standards.
“Officers are there to protect not cause harm.”
Godwin was unrepresented and did not attend the hearing on August 5.
He wrote to the panel chair: “I do not propose to engage with these proceedings, attend or submit any further material on my behalf in relation to them.
“I clearly do not agree with the conviction, hence [the] not guilty plea.
“I deny the guilt, but panel must go on the legal facts. It is fact that convictions are not always correct and the court system is not always correct.”
No character references were received on behalf of the officer but the hearing was told he got a commendation in 2008.
