Judge slams police for holding drinks party as inspector is cleared of assault

A judge has criticised police officers for organising a drinks party in Soho after an inspector was cleared of assaulting three women at the event. Judge Philip Bartle said he had concerns about the way the investigation was handled and added: ‘It seems quite extraordinary that a senior police officer would host a drinks party in which it was inevitable that people would drink too much.’ Dave Newman, 39, ‘grabbed, groped, stroked, and pinched his way around the dancefloor’ jurors…