A police officer who sexually assaulted four women on the night he was hailed as a hero has escaped prison.
David Jones attacked his shocked victims while dancing on a ABBA tribute band at the Scottish First Aid Awards party in Glasgow.
The women were a firefighter, a swimming instructor, her sister and a paramedic student.
The married 36-year-old officer, who lives in Auchterarder, Perthshire, and three colleagues were previously honoured for what were described as “heroic acts of bravery”.
They had to deal with a mentally ill, knife-wielding man – who had also injured himself – while responding to reports of a gas leak in Edinburgh.
Police officer David Jones has been found guilty of sexual abuse following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court
David Jones attacked his shocked victims while dancing to an ABBA tribute band at the Scottish First Aid Awards party, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow in March 2023
First aid was provided, but the area was still evacuated before reinforcements arrived.
Jones and his colleagues received the Chairperson's Award for their efforts at the event at the Radisson Blu Hotel on March 31, 2023.
But his six-and-a-half year career is over after he was found guilty following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
The father of two was acquitted of three further charges of sexual abuse against a political science student, a lab assistant and an ambulance worker.
Sheriff Andrew McIntyre yesterday ordered Jones to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and placed him under supervision.
He was placed on the sex offenders register for a year.
Sheriff McIntyre said: 'It seems abundantly clear to me that the night in question was a complete departure from your character.
'Your behavior was reckless to say the least and provoked a range of reactions from your victims.
'It has not escaped anyone's notice that you were presented with an award that evening for your vital efforts and first aid. You have made a significant contribution to our community.
'I cannot ignore the good work you have done in the military and police.
'That does not detract from the clear misery your behavior has caused.
'Your victims were government officials celebrating successes for which they were praised. You ruined that night for them.
David Jones was found guilty after a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court
'All women should be able to have social contact without fear or unwanted contact like you do.
'You don't fully understand or acknowledge why your behavior that night was so wrong.
'They deserved a night without harassment, and you took that away from them with your drunken sexual behavior.
'I am convinced that a community service order is appropriate.'
The trial told how after the awards were presented, partygoers celebrated to the sound of an ABBA tribute act and a DJ.
It was on the dance floor that a drunken Jones struck.
The paramedic student told the court that Jones tried to grab her breasts before putting his hand up her dress.
The firefighter described being “grabbed” and “pinched.”
The swimming instructor described an “awkward interaction” in which he touched her breast before attacking her sister.
The political science student claimed that she was slapped on the buttocks by a man on the dance floor.
The head of Police Scotland's Professional Standards department said she wanted to thank the women who came forward to report what had happened 'as this can be incredibly difficult, particularly when it involves a police officer'
Security guard Evan Alexander, 28, told the court he threw out a “drunk” Jones after he was caught invading other people's personal space.
Jones insisted he “didn't know why” he was thrown out of the party at the end of the night.
His attorney Christopher Shaw said during the sentencing that his client maintains his innocence.
He said: 'Mr Jones is a man of good character and he knows his position is now untenable.
“His employment has now ended.”
Chief Constable Helen Harrison, Head of Professional Standards at Police Scotland, said: “I would like to thank the women who have come forward to report these cases, as this can be incredibly difficult, particularly when a police officer is involved.
'As an organisation, we know how much damage public confidence in policing can be done by the actions of people who fail to live up to our values, who fail to perform their roles with integrity and who fail to uphold the standards we expect of policing.
“The officer remains suspended and misconduct proceedings will be initiated.”