Detective jailed for sexually assaulting fellow police officer and member of staff

An detective based in Ashton and Oldham who sexually assaulted a police officer and staff member has been jailed.

Forty two-year-old Det Sgt Richard Mills was sentenced to 18 months behind bars at Liverpool Crown Court.

He has also been placed on the sex offender register for ten years.

This comes after he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault in December last year by a jury verdict and released on bail pending Friday's hearing for sentencing.

The convictions involved two incidents of forceful sexual touching in 2016 and 2020 while Mills was based in Greater Manchester Police's Oldham district and in the Crime Coordination Unit at Nexus House in Ashton.

Now criminal proceedings have concluded, gross misconduct proceedings will take place.

Det Supt David Jones, of the police's Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Det Sgt Mill gravely abused his position of trust and authority within the force when he assaulted his female colleagues for his own perverse gratification.

“It was through their brave disclosure that we built a strong prosecution case.

“Cowardly, Mills denied any wrongdoing. Notwithstanding he has been held accountable for the harm he caused after the victims endured a two-week trial and testified in front of a jury.

“Their tenacity and strength shown throughout our investigation and legal proceedings is commendable and should be recognised as the driving force behind reaching today's outcome, whereby Mills is starting a jail term as a convicted sex offender.

“He is unfit to serve the public and has been barred from policing. We will now be writing to the Deputy Mayor of GM to appeal for Mills to lose his right to a police pension.

“We take all allegations of sexual violence extremely seriously and we investigate them with the utmost sensitivity. We encourage anyone who has been a victim of this crime to come forward.”

Detectives began investigating allegations of sexual assault and gross misconduct and Mills was relocated from working in Chadderton Police Station to the Crime Coordination Unit in Nexus House.

In March 2023, Mills made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature in an open working environment within the earshot of several colleagues, sparking numerous complaints, and gaining the attention of the Professional Standards Directorate.

A police officer came forward to disclose DS Mills had sexually assaulted her in 2020.

In both cases, Mills grabbed his co-worker’s hand and forced them to touch his genitals over his trousers.

Mills was suspended from the force and was charged with five counts of sexual assault on in July 2023.

During police interview, Mills denied the offences and provided no comment when questioned.