Former Metropolitan Police Special Constable Convicted
By Ben Freeman
A former Metropolitan Police Special Constable has been convicted of sexual assault after groping a 14-Year-Old school-girl while she was shopping at Tesco Express in the City of London. Despite the seriousness of the case, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term, suspended for 18 months, meaning he will not serve immediate custody.
The court heard that Hassnain Shahzad, 27, targeted the teenager as she queued at a self-service checkout in a Tesco Express near Liverpool Street Station. He put his hand on her bottom inside the store, in a moment the girl first thought might have been accidental, but to her "horror" she realised it was deliberate when Shahzad groped her a second time in the street outside.
Realising what had happened, she reported the incident immediately. The victim’s ability to recall key details, including the item Shahzad had been holding—a carton of chopped pineapple—allowed detectives to identify him using CCTV footage.
Shahzad joined the Met as a special constable in June 2023, and he had just completed his training when the sexual assaults happened a few months later.
A detailed investigation followed, including a review of CCTV footage from the store and surrounding areas. Detectives examined the footage and interviewed multiple witnesses, leading to the identification and arrest of the officer, who was off duty at the time of the incident.
He was subsequently arrested at his home in Ilford and later charged with sexual assault but pleaded not guilty, maintaining that the contact had been incidental and comparable to accidental brushing on public transport.
During proceedings at Inner London Crown Court, the jury heard evidence from the victim, forensic analysts, and police officers involved in the case. The prosecution presented video footage that captured the interaction inside the store, arguing that the contact had been deliberate. After deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
Sentencing him at Inner London Crown Court, Judge David Richards told Shahzad
"This was not just a casual touching of someone’s upper leg or bottom, it was a violation of her rights over her own body",
"Everything was well, and decent, and innocent in her world, and you ruined that with your selfish conduct."
The judge also slammed Shahzad for damaging the reputation of the Met Police and
"had let down crime victims across London."
The court also heard that Shahzad had filmed women in public without their knowledge, following them and recording their movements. While this was not the subject of the charge against him, the judge noted it demonstrated an unhealthy interest in women.
The girl’s mother tearfully spoke to the court about the impact the incident has had on her teenage daughter, saying it has
"shattered" her trust in adults and marks the "tragic end of her innocence”
"His despicable actions, although momentary, will haunt her for the rest of her life",
The teenager herself expressed relief at the verdict, stating that she hoped her case would encourage others to come forward if they experience similar situations. Officers involved in the case praised her bravery and urged anyone who finds themselves in distressing situations to seek support.
At sentencing, the judge acknowledged the significant impact of the offence on the young victim. While noting that the former officer had no previous convictions, the court imposed a 6 month suspended prison term, and he was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service and attend 25 days of rehabilitation.
He was also made subject to restrictions under a court order, including being placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years. The order restricts his ability to approach schools, have unsupervised contact with children, or own devices that are not available for police inspection.
Following the conviction, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that an internal disciplinary process had already been underway. A misconduct panel reviewed the case and ruled that his behaviour constituted gross misconduct. As a result, he was formally dismissed from the force, with the panel concluding that his actions were fundamentally incompatible with his role in policing.
Senior officers condemned the behaviour, stating that it undermined public trust and reaffirming their commitment to upholding professional standards. A spokesperson for the force acknowledged that cases of misconduct involving serving or former officers damage confidence in policing and stated that efforts to improve internal safeguarding measures continue.
This case comes amid wider scrutiny of professional standards in policing. The Metropolitan Police has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that those who fail to meet the expectations of their role are identified and dealt with accordingly. A review of misconduct procedures remains ongoing, with the force pledging greater transparency and accountability.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all, stay safe. And I’ll see you then
Bénédict Tarot Freeman
Editor-at-Large
VPN City-Desk
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