A NORTH YORKSHIRE police officer accused of coaxing sexual favours from five women while on duty has been cleared of attempted rape, but found guilty of three sex offences.

Twice-married PC Matthew Fisher, 37, who had a 12-year career in the service, breathed a sigh of relief after a jury acquitted him of the most serious charge of attempted rape after ten hours and 30 minutes of considering their verdicts.

Fisher had been the subject of a seven–day trial.

He rocked on his feet in the dock of Hull Crown Court as he was told he was guilty of misconduct in public office for misusing a police database to get mobile numbers for women.

Fisher has already admitted two charges of misconduct in public office by engaging in sexual activity while on duty – once in Selby Bus Station.

Fisher was also found guilty of two charges of sexual assault on a woman.

The attempted rape he was cleared of concerned a woman in her 20s. She told the jury he forced her onto a bed in her home when he had gone around to make take a statement.

Fisher insisted it was a consensual sex act on him two months before he got engaged to his second wife.

The North Yorkshire officer, of York Road in Selby, has admitted he gave drunk women lifts home from Selby Town centre in the evening. He has already offered his resignation from the force.

His barrister, Stephen Crossley, in his summing-up told the jury he was not the monster the Crown said he was.

The jury is still considering one charge of sexual assault on a woman he gave a lift home to.

Judge Michael Mettyear told the jury to go home and resume deliberations on the final charge today.