A policeman has been cleared of sexually assaulting a colleague during a Christmas Party.

Patrick Bone, 28, was accused of attacking the 24-year-old woman in a Brighton hotel room in December last year, moments after she confessed to being raped as a teenager.

The married father-of-two denied indecent assault during the three-day trial at Lewes Crown Court and the jury took just 30 minutes to return a unanimous not guilty verdict.

Mr Bone vowed to rebuild his career in the Metropolitan Police and Met Police Federation spokesman Peter Baker said: "Mr Bone has always denied the allegation from the outset as false and total fabrication. He has been suspended from duty for nearly a year. He now wishes to return to work and rebuild his chosen career within the police force."

Mr Baker described Mr Bones' time while on suspension as "miserable".

The court heard the woman, a Met PC, went to the party at the Ramada Jarvis hotel in Brighton on December 20 last year.

She said she became upset during dinner, at which she drank wine and vodka, by a comment which reminded her of her rape ordeal when she was 15.

She retired to her room but left again later to chat with another colleague. On the way, she claimed, she met Mr Bone, from south London, who insisted on escorting her to her room where she alleged he kissed her and groped her breasts.

During his evidence, Mr Bone said the woman kissed him and invited him back to her room before she got upset and asked him to leave.

Other witnesses said the woman was flirtatious during the evening and had talked explicitly about oral sex.

As the verdict was read out, Mr Bone's family gasped and tearfully hugged each other.

Mr Bone thanked the jury before leaving the dock and refused to comment after leaving court.