A senior detective is due to appear before magistrates over an allegation that he indecently assaulted a woman in an off-duty incident in a pub.

Detective Inspector Steve Richards has been moved to a non-operational post as a result of being charged.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said that the charge concerned an alleged incident last year in Redcar.

Last night, DI Richards' wife, Elizabeth, described the accusation levelled against her husband as "rubbish".

Answering the door of the couple's detached home in Ingleby Barwick, Mrs Richards said: "He is totally innocent of everything he has been charged with.

"It's total rubbish, and I fully support him."

The detective is expected to appear before Teesside magistrates tomorrow.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "An officer has been charged with an offence of indecent assault on a woman following an off-duty incident in a pub in Redcar last December.

"The officer has been moved to a non-operational post."

DI Richards recently led inquiries into two sensational murders which hit national headlines. Both resulted in life sentences for the killers.

One of the investigations was into the death of a bride of four days, Claire Butters, at the hands of her new husband, Stephen.

Another major investigation was into the murder of teacher Lesley Grant who was stabbed to death by her partner, Simon Keogh, at Loftus.

The successful convictions at Teesside Crown Court last year were followed by DI Richards' appointment as head of the dedicated Langbaurgh drugs squad in January this year.

DI Richards was moved from that job as a result of being charged, although he remains at work and has not been suspended.