A Metropolitan Police sergeant, Laurence ‘Larry’ Knight, is facing the possibility of jail time and the end of his career after sexually assaulting a stranger in the sea at Brighton during his stag-do. Knight, who was accompanied by his group of friends and had earlier been entertained by strippers at their AirBnb, met the 21-year-old victim in Brighton town centre on July 17, 2021, when social distancing rules were still in place due to Covid-19. As they were treading water together, Knight expressed dissatisfaction with his evening and proceeded to touch the victim intimately, despite her mentioning his upcoming marriage in two weeks. Knight, who was a sergeant at Stoke Newington police station in north London at the time, denied the charges of rape and sexual assault. However, a jury found him guilty of sexual assault while clearing him of rape.
Knight, an Oxford University graduate in chemistry, admitted to pulling the woman’s bikini bottoms to one side but claimed to have stopped when he realized his actions were wrong. He asserted that there was no possibility of penetration during the encounter. The judge, Peter Rook, remarked on the impact of the offense on the victim’s life and emphasized the devastating consequences for Knight’s career.
According to the prosecution, the complainant and her friends had intended to go to the beach with a bottle of wine when they encountered Knight’s group in the town centre. The two groups ended up walking to the beach together, engaging in friendly interactions along the way. The complainant mentioned that Knight’s group was talkative, funny, and acted jovially.
The woman confirmed having consumed three glasses of rose and one gin and tonic, describing herself as a bit more than tipsy. She joined Knight in the sea at his insistence, feeling sympathetic toward his disappointment with his stag-do. However, during their time in the water, Knight moved her underwear aside and forcefully rubbed her, causing discomfort and pain. The woman protested, but Knight remained silent. She later disposed of her tampon at the police station, explaining that she did not think about preserving it as evidence at the time. Knight claimed that there was no indication from the woman that she did not consent to his actions and only became concerned when she touched his penis.
Knight was found guilty of sexual assault and awaits sentencing, with the possibility of his career being severely impacted.
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