Birmingham policeman cleared of alleged Belfast sex attack

Martin Asantaempaduh was charged with both sexually and physically assaulting a woman after the two came into contact in the early hours of August 5, 2012.

The West Midlands police officer – who was excused from attending Thursday’s hearing by trial Judge Geoffrey Miller QC – was cleared by a jury of sexual assault.

Following over four hours of deliberations, the jury failed to reach a verdict on the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Asantaempaduh is a 50-year old father-of-two, whose address is care of West Midlands police.

He refuted claims that he pushed the woman into bushes in Windsor Avenue and attacked her.

He made the case that he was trying to get her a taxi home.

Asantaempaduh and the woman came into contact with each other after she was ejected from the Eglantine Bar and he was walking back towards Queen’s Elms.

Following the verdicts, the case will be mentioned again at Belfast Crown Court later this month.