A female Met Police Sergeant appeared in court today (10 October) charged with sexually assaulting a junior colleague at a Christmas party.

Sgt Rachel Bright, 45, is accused of putting her hand up the younger woman's skirt during a Prosecco-fuelled work night out.

Bright was off-duty at the time of the work party in Wandsworth, south west London, last December when she became 'overly-affectionate' with her alleged victim, the court was told.

Bright appeared, who works in the Met's South West Command Unit but is currently but is currently suspended from duty, appeared in court wearing a black jacket, blue trousers and a blue shirt. 

She spoke at the start of the hearing to confirm her name, date of birth and address, and later in the hearing to confirm her not guilty plea and her preference for her trial to be held in a crown court.

A plea and trial preparation hearing for Sgt Bright's case will be heard at Kingston Crown Court at the beginning of next month. 

The court heard Bright, of Sutton, south London, began complimenting the alleged victim on her body after drinking Prosecco at the work party. 

Melanie Hardwick, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant is a senior police officer. 

"On December 5, 2022, in the Borough of Wandsworth, she intentionally touched a woman and that touching was sexual. 

"She attended a team outing. The defendant is a junior colleague.

"Throughout the evening, [Bright] had been drinking Prosecco, acting in an overly-affectionate manner... Complimenting the complainant on her body. 

"At the end of the night, the defendant put her hand up the complaint's skirt,."

Ms Hardwick added that the touching had been over the woman's clothing, and that it amounted to an 'abuse of trust'.

District Judge Devinder Sandhu sent the case to Kingston Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on November 6. 

She told Bright: "Between now and that date, I am going to grant you bail."