Officer guilty of indecent assault

File photo / NZ Herald

An Oamaru policeman has been found guilty of indecent assault and suspended after touching a woman inappropriately at a fancy dress party.

Karl Walter Vincent, 33, was convicted after a defended hearing in Oamaru District Court yesterday, the Otago Daily Times reported.

The woman, who has name suppression, said Vincent turned up to her 'P' Party, where guests were expected to dress as something starting with the letter P, though she did not know him.

While she was standing beside an outside fire dressed as a 'punk', Vincent touched her thigh and grabbed her buttock.

She told him to ".... off" and he walked away.

The next morning she was told Vincent was a police officer.

Vincent admitted being drunk but told police he did not "feel girls up".

After he was found guilty, his counsel Rachelle Lamb indicated she would seek a discharge without conviction at a yet to be fixed sentencing date.

Police said that Vincent had been suspended and an internal code of conduct process would determine his future.

- NZPA