Officer Accused Of Raping A Woman

Plymouth, England, UK


A POLICE OFFICER accused of raping a woman on four occasions was a "typical bully" who mentally and physically abused his victim, a court has heard.

Devon and Cornwall police constable Jamie Gilbert, aged 34, of Birkdale Close, Saltash, has pleaded not guilty to four charges of rape. The alleged victim cannot be named for legal reasons.

The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, started yesterday at Exeter Crown Court, when a jury was sworn in and the prosecution made its opening statement.

Gilbert, who was a serving police officer based at Callington Police Station at the time of the alleged offences, was suspended from duty in June 2007, when the allegations were first made to police.

Sarah Munroe QC, prosecuting, outlined the case against Gilbert and the details of each of the four alleged rapes.

As background, she told the jury that Gilbert was a keen bodybuilder who took anabolic steroids in order to build his muscles and at the time of the alleged rapes he weighed between 17 and 18 stone, although he was only 5ft 8in tall. Miss Munroe also told the court that Gilbert liked watching pornographic films.

The first rape happened in November 2004 when Gilbert forced himself on the victim, despite knowing she did not want any sexual contact with him, Miss Munroe told the court. She said the second rape happened in June 2005, when Gilbert again forced himself on the woman.

The third and fourth alleged rapes happened on two separate occasions, on January 14 and January 26 in 2006, the court heard.

Miss Munroe said evidence from an independent witness would show that Gilbert had shown signs of behaving like a "typical bully" who was aggressive. The jury also heard that the alleged victim had had consensual sex with Gilbert on other occasions.

The prosecution said the victim found the courage to make the allegations to police in June 2007, after seeking help from a counsellor, and that when Gilbert was first interviewed by police, he denied all the charges, saying the victim had consented to sex on each occasion.

Miss Munroe urged the jury to try the case on the evidence put before them and to avoid being swayed by "emotion on either side".

The jury was to hear evidence from the alleged victim today.

The trial continues.