PC Ares Michaelides has been cleared of sexual assault after flirting with a woman who invited him into her home

A police officer who flirted with a woman after being invited into her home for a cup of tea wept after jurors took cleared him of sexual assault in less than an hour.

PC Ares Michaelides, 49, was accused of stroking the 22-year-old's thigh whilst out delivering crime prevention kits to residents in Enfield, north London, on 23 November 2016.

He was on duty handing out Smartwater Home Security Packs, containing invisible liquid that can mark valuables so they can be traced back to their owner.

Michaelides, who has spent 12 years in the force, was arrested by colleagues and placed on restricted duties after the woman made a complaint later that day.

His accuser claimed the officer, recently divorced from his wife, who also works for the police, invited himself in before asking for a hot drink and molesting her after remarking: 'You're turning me on.'

Michaelides admitted flirting with the woman and telling her: 'It's not often I get gorgeous girls like you coming to the door.'

But he insisted the complainant 'giggled' at his jokes and told him he should give her a call some time.

He denied the claims, insisting the woman was 'upset' after she saw his wedding ring

Describing the friendly exchange as 'banter', he branded the claims 'ridiculous' and said the most he could be accused of was 'being an idiot and unprofessional'.

Jurors at Southwark Crown Court retired to consider a single charge of sexual assault against the policeman this afternoon before asking to listen to the woman's 999 call again.

She could be heard telling the operator Michaelides commented on her figure before stroking her leg and trying to hold her hand.

But within 20 minutes of hearing the tape, the jury returned with a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

Michaelides, of Barnet, north London, blessed himself in the dock moments before the eight men and four women came in and burst into tears thanking them after the verdict was read out.

A jury Southwark Crown Court took less than an hour to acquit the PC of the charge

Recorder Edward Brown QC discharged him from the dock and the officer left court flanked by two colleagues.

The Met Police said after the verdict: 'The officer was placed on restricted duties throughout the judicial process.

'Now that the criminal proceedings are complete the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) will commence a misconduct review of the incident.'