A serving Newham police officer has been jailed for six months after sexually assaulting a female colleague while on duty.

Pc Rytis Gilys, 33, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court yesterday.

The offence took place towards the end 2013 after Gilys rang a colleague to offer her the opportunity to attend a vehicle seizure with him.

New to the role, the junior colleague accepted and whilst parked on a quiet street, he began talking inappropriately about sex.

He then touched her leg twice and moved his hand towards her belt – on all three occasions the victim pushed his hands away.

Following an investigation by the Directorate of Professional Standards, Gilys stood trial for five counts of sexual assault against three female colleagues whilst on duty, but was cleared of four counts.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to all five counts when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 6 last year.

Summarising the case, Judge Michael Gledhill QC said: “As a serving police constable, behaving in the way you did, can only be dealt with by an immediate custodial sentence.”

Directorate of professional standards, Chief Supt Matt Gardner said: “Pc Gilys abused the trust placed in him as a police officer and used his seniority in service to abuse a junior colleague.

“No one should have to suffer such behaviour in any circumstances but for a police officer to behave in this way is even more disgraceful.”