Police officer guilty of sexually assaulting colleagues

A police officer has been found guilty of sexually assaulting his two female colleagues while on duty.

Craig Glen, a police constable, touched them inappropriately in a patrol car during separate incidents.

Glen, 37, was also found guilty of communicating indecently with the officers despite claiming his comments were "banter".

Sheriff Paul Reid deferred sentence pending background reports following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

The court heard Glen, who was married, worked in the serious organised crime unit in Glasgow alongside the two other officers.

He and a female colleague were in a car together in the city's Springburn area on Boxing Day in 2016.

It was claimed Glen had placed his hand on her right thigh while they were stopped at a set of traffic lights before moving it up her leg, which he denied during the trial.

The female officer said she was "disgusted, shocked" and felt "belittled" by Glen's conduct.

On the second occasion, in June 2021, another officer was in the passenger seat on her first day on the job while Glen was behind the wheel of the car.

The court heard Glen had gone to change gear and brushed his hand against her leg, which she initially "laughed off".

Glen touched her again on the thigh two further times which he stated he was "unaware" of.

He denied making a comment that he had to "contain himself," but did admit buying her dinner "on a few occasions".

Glen further denied making sexualised comments after the officer confided in him about her marriage and an allergy to latex.

He said: "If I made a comment it would have been banter."

Glen told the court he did sometimes "engage in sexualised humour" with other officers.

Sheriff Reid said Glen had "humiliated" his victims.

He said: "The remarks you made were grossly offensive and completely sexualised - your victims were humiliated.

"The [sexual] conduct took place when you were on duty in a police car.

"I have the belief that this was not an accident and was clearly deliberate."

Glen was placed on the sex offenders register and obligated to appear again in court at a later date.

Ch Supt Helen Harrison, of Police Scotland's professional standards department, said misconduct proceedings would be opened against Glen.

"Craig Glen's actions go against everything Police Scotland stands for," she said.

"All officers are bound by our Standards of Professional Behaviour, which apply on and off duty.

"Any instance where an officer fails to uphold our standards will be investigated and appropriate action taken."