VERDICTS may come today in the trial of a police officer accused of rape and sexual assaults who says one of the alleged victims climbed on top of him during ‘consensual’ sex.
West Mercia PC Michael Darbyshire denies rape and five counts of sexual assault at his ongoing trial at Worcester Crown Court. The offences are alleged to have taken place in August and November 2019.
Yesterday the 55-year-old said one of the complainants ‘rolled me on my back and mounted me’.
Details from the police officer's trial yesterday
“I did not take the initiative” he told the jury. He also said that this same complainant told him she had climaxed during sex.
The police officer and Army veteran finished giving his evidence to the jury yesterday, bringing the defence case to a formal conclusion.
Closing speeches were delivered by Andrew Jackson, for the prosecution, and Earl Pinnock, for the defence. Judge James Burbidge QC will continue summing up the evidence in the case to the jury this morning before the panel retires to deliberate on its verdicts.
The defendant yesterday described himself as ‘patriotic’, telling the jury he had served in the police for 26 years and the Royal Corps of Signals for six and a half years and called himself a ‘great lover of the Royal family’.
He told the jury one of the alleged complainants, whom he met at the White Hart pub in Fernhill Heath, near Worcester, had ‘insisted that I stay over’. It was put to him in cross-examination that he had ‘controlled her, humiliated her to satisfy your own sexual urge’.
Darbyshire replied ‘no’ and went on to describe a consensual sex act he says the complainant performed upon him. He told the jury he said to her at one stage: “Is it okay if we just sleep?”
Mr Jackson asked him if he was saying the complainant ‘could not get enough of you’. Darbyshire said: “I’m not saying that at all.”
During one tense exchange Mr Jackson said: "Your behaviour, humiliating that woman, was turning you on - wasn't it?"
"No" said Darbyshire. He further denied telling the complainant: "I haven't finished with you yet."
The trial continues. Other cases today include a series of pre-trial reviews - administrative hearings to check on the progress of cases due to come to trial. Listed are Michael Smith and Steven Scarratt.
The trial of Leon Kudhlakwazina may also begin today which would be heard by Judge Nicolas Cartwright.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article