Ex-Oldham detective sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for sexual offences

Richard Mills. Image courtesy of GMP

A detective who sexually assaulted a police officer and staff member has been brought to justice for his abhorrent behaviour towards his colleagues after they bravely came forward and supported prosecutions.

Detective Sergeant Richard Mills, aged 42, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court today (Friday).

Mills, from Rochdale, has been placed on the sex offender registry for ten years.

This comes after he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault in December last year by a jury verdict and released on bail pending today’s hearing.

The convictions involved two incidents of forceful sexual touching in 2016 and 2020 while Mills was based in GMP’s Oldham district and in the Crime Coordination Unit at Nexus House.

Now criminal proceedings have concluded, gross misconduct proceedings will take place.

Detective Superintendent David Jones, from GMP's Professional Standards Directorate, said: “DS Mills gravely abused his position of trust and authority within the force when he assaulted his female colleagues for his own perverse gratification.

“It was through their brave disclosure that we built a strong prosecution case.

“Cowardly, Mills denied any wrongdoing.

"Notwithstanding he has been held accountable for the harm he caused after the victims endured a two-week trial and testified in front of a jury.

“Their tenacity and strength shown throughout our investigation and legal proceedings is commendable and should be recognised as the driving force behind reaching today's outcome, whereby Mills is starting a jail term as a convicted sex offender.

“He is unfit to serve the public and has been barred from policing.

"We will now be writing to the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester to appeal for Mills to lose his right to a police pension.

“We take all allegations of sexual violence extremely seriously and we investigate them with the utmost sensitivity. We encourage anyone who has been a victim of this crime to come forward.”

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