Former Aycliffe councillor Neville Jones on trial for sexual assaults

Neville Jones later told officers investigating the incident that it was something he wanted to do, “in a Benny Hill way”, referring to the bawdy slapstick humour of the late comedian.

He conceded the officer did not consent and did not know what he was about to do as she had her back to him at the time, but he claimed there was no sexual intent in the slap and added it was “just a bit of fun”.

The incident was said to have taken place during an event in Newton Aycliffe in September 2024, which he was attending in his capacity as a councillor.

Jones, who was the Durham County Council member for Aycliffe East ward at the time, was attending the event with his wife, Jo, who was involved with him in the Community Spirit group in the town. At the time, she was the deputy mayor for Newton Aycliffe.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the officer was talking to someone else when the incident took place.

“He didn’t tap me on the bottom, he slapped me hard on the bottom,” she told the jury.

She agreed Jones then said words to the effect that he, “always wanted to do that” and added: “He definitely made some comment about it being a police officer.”

Asked if she thought it was “a joke”, she replied: “No, I didn’t think it was a joke.”

She said she made a nervous laugh as she was talking to someone she hardly knew, but was “in shock and upset” as she had not expected it to happen.

“I was embarrassed at the time and humiliated because it was a public arena.”

She said she reported it to colleagues and Jones was arrested later in the day.

At a police interview that evening he said he was surprised he had been arrested, but was now “sorry” he did it, the jury heard.

In details of the interview read to the court he agreed he had not asked the officer and said he probably made a remark afterwards along the lines of having wanted to do it.

“Just what I said: ‘I’ve always wanted to do that’, in a Benny Hill way,” he said.

Ex-Durham county councillor Neville Jones pictured leaving an earlier court hearing in the case, (Image: The Northern Echo)

Jones told police, “her bum was there to be slapped,” but he said he had not slapped anyone else’s bottom.

Asked if at any time he thought it was all right to slap a police officer’s bottom, he told the officer: “I wish she was here, I would apologise to her.”

He claimed there was “no sexual intent” to what he did.

“I don’t know. I just did it”, he said.

Asked about the reaction to it, he said he did not expect to end up in police custody.

When asked if he found the officer attractive, he told the police interviewer she was “bonny”, but denied finding her sexually attractive, replying: “No, no absolutely not.

“It’s just a thing to do, and I regret it.”

Jones, 60, of Van Mildert Road, Newton Aycliffe, who was a Durham County Council and Great Aycliffe Council member, from 2021 to 2025, denies sexual assault by touching.

He also denies a similar charge arising from a subsequent separate allegation, relating to an incident involving another woman some years earlier.

The trial continues tomorrow.