Greater Manchester Police officer accused of sexually assaulting young child appears in court

PC Dean Dempster is alleged to have sexually touched the child while on duty

A Greater Manchester Police officer accused of sexually assaulting a young child while on duty appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for the first time on Tuesday (January 16).

PC Dean Dempster, who served in the Oldham division, is alleged to have sexually touched the child while on duty in the town on December 29 last year. He was arrested on New Year's Eve.

The 34-year-old, of Langford Road, Manchester, is a former Army reservist who joined the force in 2021 after serving as a special constable and ambulance service paramedic.

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He has been charged with two offences involving allegedly assaulting the child by sexual touching and misconduct in a public office due to the alleged assault being committed while on duty. The officer, who has short dark hair and was wearing a grey round neck jumper, appeared via video link from Forest Bank prison.

Vanessa Thomson, prosecuting, told the court that a plea and trial preparation hearing could not take place as there was currently no indictment.

However a provisional date for a trial, expected to last up to seven days, was fixed to begin on June 19. He was further remanded in custody until February 23 when he is due to enter his pleas.

His barrister Richard Orme said, “We have instructions to make a bail application in due course.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said Dempster has been suspended from duty and misconduct proceedings will resume upon the conclusion of criminal proceedings.