Hero police sergeant’s career in tatters after molesting two women during birthday party in O’Neills pub

An award-winning police sergeant’s career is in ruins after he molested two women during an alcohol-fuelled birthday party at an O’Neills pub, a court heard.

Tim Clarkson, 37, was said to have taken the evening as an opportunity to ‘try it on’ with multiple women as his marriage to a policewoman fell apart.

A visibly emotional Clarkson on Friday appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Court where he was ordered to complete 200 hours community service work.

The hearing was told he has quit Hampshire Constabulary where he was facing certain dismissal and is £40,000 in debt. 

Last year, Clarkson and four fellow-officers received a National Police Bravery Award after he was first on the scene and successfully disarmed a suspect brandishing a handgun and two explosive devices.

The suspect detonated one of the devices and pointed his gun at Clarkson, who tasered him and dragged him from the smoke-filled property in Gosport on August 28, 2023. 

Clarkson from Warsash, Southampton pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault at the Winchester pub on July 20 last year.

He will now also have to sign the sex offenders register for the next five years at Southampton Central Police Station.

Tim Clarkson (pictured receiving his award) was said to have taken the evening as an opportunity to ‘try it on’ with multiple women as his marriage to a policewoman fell apart

A visibly emotional Clarkson yesterday appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Court where he was ordered to complete 200 hours community service work

District Judge Julie Cooper said: ‘Both offences are incidents of touching with the first lady’s hand being taken by Clarkson and placed on his penis over his clothing and pulling another lady towards him and his apparently erect penis.’

Elaborating on the first incident Judge Cooper explained: ‘He pulled her close to him and said quite a few sexually-related things.

‘He said to her: ‘What the f*** did you have to bring your boyfriend for?’ and that he would like to take her back to his hotel and touched her on top of her clothing.

‘It was Mr Clarkson’s birthday and he had clearly been drinking and the second lady was dancing when he pulled her into him and caused her to touch what she believed to be his erect penis.’

In her victim impact statement the first woman said: ‘Sometimes I question myself since this happened and ask myself why I did not turn around and say something.

‘He had relationship issues with his wife and this occasion was an opportunity to get drunk and try it on with multiple people.

Staines Magistrates’ Court where Clarkson appeared in the dock on Friday 

The second woman said in her impact statement: ‘I think about what happened, going over and over the events as to why this happened.

‘I have had to start taking anti-depressants again and have had three panic attacks at home.

Judge Cooper also ordered Clarkson to pay £500 compensation to each victim and complete ten days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

‘The pre-sentence report sets out clearly what happed and as a result of this the marriage, that was rocky, has completely broken down and I am aware Mr Clarkson has resigned, knowing that he would have been sacked.

‘He has given service, excellent service to the public and is a person of good character, but acted appallingly against two women […],’ said the judge.

‘They were all on night out and all seemed to have been drinking, but this does not excuse his behaviour.

‘To impose less than five hundred pounds compensation to each woman would be derisory.’