Trial date set for police officer accused of sexually assaulting girl, six

A trial date has been set for a police officer accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl while on duty.

Pc Dean Dempster, from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), is alleged to have sexually touched the child while on duty in Oldham on December 29.

The 34-year-old, of Langford Road, Manchester, appeared over videolink from prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.

Judge David Swinnerton fixed a trial date for June 19, with the case expected to last five to seven days.

He remanded Dempster in custody ahead of a further hearing on February 23.

The police officer, who joined GMP in 2021 after serving as a special constable and ambulance service paramedic, is charged with two offences – one of assault of the girl by sexual touching and a second of misconduct in a public office, due to the alleged assault being committed while on duty.

No pleas were entered during the hearing.

Following Dempster’s arrest, on New Year’s Eve last year, a spokesman for GMP said he had been suspended from duty and misconduct proceedings would resume upon the conclusion of criminal proceedings.