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An Ottawa police officer pleaded guilty Monday to discreditable conduct and insubordination after assaulting a woman with whom he was in a relationship.

Const. Scott Fenton had pleaded guilty in September to a criminal charge of assault and received a conditional discharge after a December 2013 altercation with a former girlfriend. In what an agreed statement of facts called a “heated dispute” in a “troubled” relationship, Fenton grabbed the wrists of the woman, then pushed her against a wall.

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As a result of the criminal charge, Fenton was charged with discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act, the provincial legislation that governs police officers. He was also charged with insubordination for failing to properly secure his force-issued firearm. At the time of the incident, his duty belt with firearm in its holster was found hanging unattended in a hall closet.

In a joint-submission on penalty, both the defence and police prosecutor asked for a three-month demotion to second-class constable for Fenton, who has been a police officer since 2001 and has no previous record of disciplinary action.