Thomas Hawkins, 43, will appear before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday 12 December charged with assault.

The assault is alleged to have occurred on a woman known to him on 11 May 2022.

Hawkins, a Sussex Police Detective Constable, is suspended from duty. The alleged offence happened off duty.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct which directed that a local investigation by the Professional Standards Department should be conducted.