A POLICE officer accused of squeezing a woman’s breast during a pub crawl said he only went to give her a “friendly hug”.

PC Ralph Bainbridge, of Cleveland Police, drank 16 pints on a trip with work colleagues when he is alleged to have touched the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The 41-year-old, who has been a police officer for more than a decade, was off-duty at the time of the allegation and denies he intentionally squeezed the victim’s breast.

During the second day of the misconduct hearing at The Grand Hotel in Hartlepool, PC Bainbridge admitted causing “embarrassment” to himself, the alleged victim and Cleveland Police.

He said he had been “drunk but not out of control” and disputes the victim’s account of the evening, saying he went to hug the woman outside a pub rather than close to a bar inside a pub.

The officer said he had gone to give the woman a “friendly hug” and in doing so, his hand had touched one of her breasts.

When he realised, PC Bainbridge said he moved his hand to the victim’s shoulder and denied ever squeezing her breast.

Asked if he had intentionally touched the woman’s breast, PC Bainbridge replied: “no”.

PC Bainbridge admits telling the victim to “f*** off” after he tried to apologise later in the evening, but she had said she “didn’t want to speak to him”.

“I was annoyed she didn’t listen to my apology, she wouldn’t give me the chance to apologise,” said PC Bainbridge.

The officer did admit he “could have tried harder” to be nicer in his apology.

“She didn’t give me chance to explain – I was frustrated.

“I am hardly the most delicate person – I am a big lump.”

PC Bainbridge told the hearing he was a “touchy feely person” and often hugged friends if he felt he was close enough to them.

Asked why he went to hug the woman from behind, he claimed it was the “easiest route”.

“I just walked up to her and gave her a hug. Looking back, it was not the best decision in my life.”

In his closing speech to the panel, Dijen Basu, representing Cleveland Police, said PC Bainbridge carried out a “sexual assault” and his actions amounted to “gross misconduct - pure and simple”.

Mr Basu said: "We say it is exceedingly unlikely a person would misinterpret what (the complainant) has described.

"She has always described cupping and squeezing. Both of these actions are the description of a deliberate act about which she cannot sensibly be mistaken."

Ailsa Williamson, representing PC Bainbridge, pointed out discrepancies in the victim’s evidence and said her memory of the day had been “very limited” and therefore her view that the touching had been deliberate “may not be reliable”.

Ms Williamson said: "In a case where there are no independent witnesses, you as a panel need to be satisfied that the evidence of the complainant is reliable."

The panel adjourned the hearing to reach their decision and are expected to deliver their verdict today.