PC Daniel Julian, a 46-year-old Sussex Police officer, has been cleared of attempted rape and two other sexual offences. The jury delivered the not guilty verdict on 12 April at Lewes Crown Court.
The allegations against Julian stemmed from an incident reported to have occurred on 17 August 2021 at a hotel in Gravesend, Kent. Julian was attending a police training course at the time. Following the report, he was arrested and suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation, which was conducted by the force with charges later authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Despite the acquittal, PC Julian remains suspended as the Professional Standards Department moves forward with misconduct proceedings.
Detective Inspector Jennifer Pietersen commented on the case: “This has been a particularly difficult case for all involved. It was important that this case was decided by a jury, and we are grateful to those members of the public who carefully considered all of the evidence presented before the court.”
“We acknowledge and respect the decision they came to. We are aware that cases involving sexual offences impact not only the people involved within the investigation but also those reading or following the trials in the media.”
“This has been a lengthy investigation and I’d like to thank all those who assisted with our enquiries and the subsequent court process for their support and patience.”
Sussex Police continues to encourage and support any victims of sexual offences to come forward, ensuring that such cases are thoroughly investigated.
For anyone affected by similar issues, you can report to the police online or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.
