Chris Rann

A former police constable from Hertfordshire has been sentenced for committing sexual assault and related offences, marking a significant fall from grace within the force.

Chris Rann, 47, from Hitchin, appeared at Luton Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating and one count of sexual assault. The offences occurred in December 2024 and involved one victim. Following his guilty plea on 3 July 2025, Rann was sentenced on 8 August 2025 to a 12-month high-level community order. This included 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was issued a restraining order against the victim, ordered to pay £500 in compensation and £85 in costs, and placed on the sex offender's register.

Rann had been suspended from duty by Hertfordshire Police pending an internal investigation into the allegations. He subsequently resigned from his post before the sentencing. The force confirmed that a conduct hearing would be held in due course to address his professional misconduct.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Mariner of Hertfordshire Police commented on the case, stating: 'Rann's conduct fell well below the standards we expect in Hertfordshire.' He further emphasised the broader implications, adding: 'Officers and staff who fall below our policing standards and, in this case, commit criminal offences, damage the public's confidence in what we do, which in turn makes our job of catching criminals and protecting victims harder.'

The case was reported by BBC News, drawing from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, and highlights the internal accountability measures within Hertfordshire Police for officers involved in criminal behaviour.