HMP Wandsworth Officer Sex Assault Trial: No Verdict

A jury in the trial of a prison officer accused of twice putting his hand inside a drunken female colleague’s bikini have failed to reach a verdict. 

Joseph Dawson, 27, was a pool party guest at a summer get together for HMP Wandsworth staff and was described by one witness as a “shark in the pool.”

After almost eight hours of deliberation a Croydon Crown Court jury failed to reach a majority verdict on either count.

Dawson, of St. Catherines Court, Rosefield Road, Staines-upon-Thames fought the charges and will now have to wait to see if there will be a re-trial.

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting the fellow prison officer between July 24 and 25, 2021 at the south London home of a female colleague.

The Crown Prosecution Service asked for time to consider if they would continue pursuing the charges.

Dawson will continue to remain on bail.