A FORMER temporary Detective Inspector with West Yorkshire Police only resigned just over a week before a hearing into him assaulting his partner at a golf club in Bradford.

Detective Sergeant Gareth Greenwood, 44, from Bradford, who had worked his way up to a Temporary DI role, would have been sacked if he had not left his job, a police misconduct hearing found.

The accelerated hearing took place on August 28 and the decision was made by Assistant Chief Constable Galvin.

He found Greenwood’s actions constituted “gross misconduct”.

Greenwood did not attend the hearing and resigned from the force on August 19 - more than two years after the offence.

A report from the hearing said Greenwood was off-duty at a social function at Baildon Golf Club with his partner on April 29, 2022, when the assault happened.

He engaged in arguments with his partner and another person, then, at 12.07am on April 30, 2022, he followed his partner out of the premises and pushed her in the back/shoulder from behind, said the report.

Greenwood was found guilty of assault at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on April 6 last year and sentenced to 18 months conditional discharge.

The former officer appealed the conviction at Manchester Crown Court on March 12 this year but this was dismissed and he was sentenced to 12 months conditional discharge.

The report said Greenwood admitted the “factual basis of the allegations” but denies he committed any offence as he says the push was “consensual”.

His partner has also stated several times that she does not consider herself to be a victim of assault.

The assault was caught on CCTV and this alongside the court convictions amounted to “incontrovertible” evidence, according to Mr Galvin.

He said: “She clearly loves DS Greenwood, but having watched the CCTV I do not consider it credible that she consented to being pushed in the back whilst upset following a heated argument.”

Greenwood’s partner - named 'Miss X' in the report - gave her evidence in both court cases and it was rejected.

Mr Galvin said: “In those circumstances, I consider it likely that Miss X is trying to avoid there being consequences for DS Greenwood, and that she did not in fact consent at the time of the assault.”

It was also rejected that those around Greenwood did not react to the assault on his partner.

The report said people can be seen and heard on the CCTV disapproving of his conduct.

Mr Galvin found Greenwood lacked any remorse and “seems to believe that he had done nothing wrong”.

He “continues to submit that the investigation was malicious and biased”, according to the report.

In other mitigation, the report said there has been an impact on Greenwood and his family.

It added: “Former DS Greenwood was clearly a good officer, having progressed to the rank of a Temporary DI.”

But Mr Galvin said this “does not excuse or mitigate his actions” in assaulting his partner and they “significantly harm public trust and confidence”.

The report said: “Domestic violence and violence against women and girls are high in the public consciousness, and it is unacceptable for a serving officer to be convicted of a crime of this nature.”

It added: “These are matters in respect of which there has been significant national scrutiny of police forces.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Nicola Bryar, Head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “We have made a commitment to protect women and girls from violence and the threat of violence.

“The victim in this case did not support the investigation so we pursued what we call an evidence-led prosecution, and this evidence has again been heard as part of this misconduct hearing.

“We do not want perpetrators of domestic abuse working in this organisation.

“The public quite rightly should expect that our officers and staff behave ethically and lawfully both on and off duty.

“This former officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct.

“He will also be added to the College of Policing’s Barred List preventing him from gaining further employment in policing.

“I would urge anyone who has been a victim of domestic abuse, whether the perpetrator works for the police or not, to please report it.

“Similarly, if you have any concerns for a family member, friend or colleague who may be a victim of domestic abuse then please make contact.”