A police officer who sexually assaulted a junior colleague at a force HQ is still being paid despite his conviction.
David McQuade, 52, was found guilty of assaulting the woman at Glenrothes police station in October 2022.
The long-serving constable has been suspended since the complaint was made more than two years ago but has kept his £48,000 a year salary while carrying out no police work.
McQuade will also have received the annual pay rise awarded to officers over the last two years, raking in more than £100,000 in total.
The constable attacked the woman on October 7, 2022 at the Fife Division headquarters on Detroit Road while he was on duty.
A court heard that he attempted to pressure her into having sex with him, repeatedly kissed her on her face and neck, touched her on the body and tried to undo her trousers.
The constable was found guilty at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on December 16, has been placed on the sex offenders’ register and will be sentenced next month.
He will then face an internal police misconduct probe before a decision is made whether to sack him.
Scottish Labour Justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said “Police Officers convicted of serious offences such as sexual assault have fallen well short of the standard expected of our Police and appalling cases such as this must be dealt with urgently.”
Scottish Conservative shadow minister for victims Sharon Dowey MSP said: “The fact that this officer has continued to be paid since his suspension is an insult to the victim in this case.
“Taxpayers will question why they have footed the bill for this police officer’s wages given he has now been found guilty of such predatory behaviour.”
McQuade is the second officer to be revealed this week of sexually abusing female colleagues.
Constable Peter Fleming subjected three of his female colleagues to “appalling” language and behaviour while on duty in Rothesay and has also been placed on the sex offenders register.
He pleaded guilty at Greenock Sheriff Court last week and will be sentenced next month.
Fleming made colleagues feel so uncomfortable with his remarks that one woman “felt she had to curl away from him and lean against the wall of the vehicle”, a court heard.
He made remarks to the woman including that she should ‘tie herself up and dress like a schoolgirl’.
The cases have raised concern that the force still has not got to grips with sexism and misogyny after a report found such attitudes were still “pervasive”.
A probe by the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights Independent Review Group (IRG) found that institutional and personal sexism and misogyny “is a daily experience for many” and it was preventing career progression for women officers.
The report, published in September 2024, found “deeply embedded outdated attitudes that contribute to a hostile environment towards women within the service”.
There are currently double the number of male officers than female officers in Police Scotland with fewer women joining the force than men every year.
Wendy Chamberlain, Lib Dem MP for North East Fife and a former police officer, said: “In September, an independent review found sexist and misogynistic attitudes were still pervasive within Police Scotland.
“This behaviour, often disguised as banter, has had a corrosive effect on Scottish policing for too long and needs to be stamped out wherever it springs up.
“Better training for first line managers and robust recording would demonstrate to every officer that they are in a supportive work environment where they can rise through the ranks and achieve their potential and that there will be stern consequences for poor behaviour.”
Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison, head of the Professional Standards Department, said: “We acknowledge the conviction of David McQuade at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
“The matter will be referred to the Deputy Chief Constable for consideration of misconduct proceedings.
“David McQuade’s conduct falls way below the standards of professional behaviour expected of everyone who works in policing.
“I would like to commend the victim in this case for coming forward.
“We know it can be difficult to report crimes of this nature but their pursuit of justice reflects their integrity to do the right thing and I applaud their values.
“It is right that policing is held to high standards at all times, and we will always support officers and staff acting with our values and standards at heart.”
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