Neil Wilby Media

A Cheshire Constabulary officer, who resigned from the force on the day he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing, faces a misconduct hearing at Force HQ later this week over assault and criminal damage allegations.

The force’s Appropriate Authority will assert that Detective Sergeant Robert Astbury, 51, of Middlewich, Cheshire, has breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in regard to Discreditable Conduct.

Specifically, the police say in a notice posted on their website:

“Between 26th December 2019 and 29th December 2019, former Detective Sergeant Astbury assaulted a female thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm. Contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

“Between 2nd June 2023 and 5th June 2023, former Detective Sergeant Astbury assaulted a second female thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm. Contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

“Between 2nd June 2023 and 5th June 2023, former Detective Sergeant Astbury without lawful excuse damaged a bag and make-up to the value of £40 belonging to a person intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged. Contrary to sections 1(1) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.”

There is no mention by Cheshire Police that ex-D/Sgt Astbury pleaded guilty to those offences at court, against two separate women, and was sentenced to a total of nine months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to carry out 120 hours unpaid work and 10 days rehabilitation activities.

The judge also ordered him to pay the first victim £500 compensation and £250 to the other woman.

The court heard the first woman no longer lives in the area but the judge imposed a five-year restraining order to keep Astbury away from his second victim.

During the sentencing hearing, in July, 2024, the court heard that Astbury was so incensed after checking one of his girlfriend’s WhatsApp messages he started punching walls in ‘a complete frenzy’ and forcibly grabbed her arm to stop her leaving.

He had served with Cheshire Constabulary for 20 years before resigning. The misconduct hearing is, of course, expected to be a formality.

The force has not given any details of the composition of the Panel.

There is no information available as to which unit or district to which D/Sgt Astbury was assigned whilst serving.

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Page last updated: Tuesday 27th August, 2024 at 0945 hours

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Picture credit: Cheshire Constabulary

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