Officer 'abused position' by alleged rape of woman

JURY HEARS SERGEANT TOLD WOMAN: 'YOU HAVE NO SAY'

- HELEN WILLIAM

A POLICE officer stripped off his uniform and raped the alleged victim of an attempted burglary in her home, a court has heard. Sergeant David Stansbury abused his position of trust as a serving police officer to "exploit a vulnerable young woman for his own sexual gratification" the prosecution told Bristol Crown Court.

The prosecution said Stansbury had been called out to the scene in Plymouth and took the woman's statement after a suspect had tried to smash her door in. She had called 999 and Stansbury was among the officers who responded.

Despite having no ongoing role in investigating the incident, Stansbury returned to the woman's home and raped her on different days, the jury was told.

Stansbury, 43, of Ilminster, Somerset, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape between October 23 and November 30 2009. He was an officer with Devon and Cornwall Police between 2009 and 2011.

The alleged rape victim thinks the first assault was within days of her original 999 call when she was drunk and had drugs in her home. She thought he was checking to see if she was all right.

Stansbury was in uniform, placed his police radio on the mantlepiece and started to undress.