A probationary police officer has stepped down from the force after assaulting a woman while drunk last year.

PC Oliver Banfield of West Midlands Police grabbed and forced Emma Homer to the ground while he was intoxicated in July 2020.

At Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday (March 19), Homer said in a statement that she has been left with "anxiety, insomnia, and stress" following the "terrifying" attack.

She went on to add that she thought Banfield, 25, was "fulfilling a violent cop movie fantasy" during the horrific assault.

Content warning: This is the CCTV of Banfield's attack:

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After hearing her account, Banfield was spared prison and instead sentenced to a 14-week nigh time curfew, banning him from leaving his house between 19:00 and 07:00.

Speaking out afterwards, Homer's family said they were "disappointed" with the hearing, which went on to receive mass criticism.

However, while West Midlands Police said that he was still to face a misconduct hearing in due course, Banfield has now resigned from the force, as per the BBC.

CCTV of the attack was shown at Leicester Magistrates' during the sentencing hearing.

During the assault in the early hours of July 26 in Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, Banfield grabbed Homer and forced her to the ground.

The Crown Prosecution Service initially said that there was not enough evidence to try Banfield, but when Homer appealed, further inquiries were made and he was charged.

Banfield pleaded guilty to assault by beating at a hearing in January after being suspended by his force.

Labour MP Harriet Harman criticized the non-custodial sentence in a tweet on Friday: "He continues in post. WMPolice (West Midlands Police) must review.

"This is proof, if any needed, that system fails women and protects men."

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West Midlands Police Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said Banfield's resignation was accepted on Tuesday.

"I want to stress that former PC Banfield will still face an accelerated misconduct hearing, chaired by the chief constable, in the near future," she said.

"I recognise the distress Emma Homer – who was assaulted and verbally abused by Banfield – has suffered during this time.

"We have spoken to her today to update her on the resignation of former PC Banfield and will continue to keep her updated."

Featured image credit: Pexels / Connor Danylenko

Drunk police officer who attacked 'terrified' woman resigns after being spared jail