Ex-Cop Convicted of Assault at Newcastle Venue
A former Northumbria police officer was convicted of sexual assault for an incident at STACK, the popular container village in Newcastle. The officer was dismissed from the force following the conviction, which took place at a well-known local social hub.
The convicted officer is former PC Jake Hayes, 28, who had joined Northumbria Police in 2021 and served the rural Northumberland community. He resigned from the force on February 17, 2026, while subject to misconduct proceedings, just before a hearing that found his actions amounted to gross misconduct. The assault occurred in April 2025 at the St James' STACK venue in Newcastle city centre. Hayes, who had been drinking heavily, approached a woman from behind, put his arms around her, and then cupped and squeezed her breasts twice. The incident was captured on CCTV from three different angles. Following a police investigation, Hayes admitted to the sexual assault in August 2025. At his sentencing in September 2025, he received a community order, was subjected to alcohol abstinence with electronic monitoring, and was ordered to pay financial penalties. During a misconduct hearing on February 18, 2026, chaired by Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine, the allegations were proven, confirming a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour for Discreditable Conduct. Hayes claimed he had no memory of the incident due to intoxication and expressed shock and apologies for his "drunken foolishness," citing struggles with mental health and alcohol. This case adds to recent scrutiny of Northumbria Police, with data showing 64 officers were accused of sexual assault or domestic abuse between April 2019 and March 2023. Of those investigated, 11 officers were ultimately dismissed from the force.
