A disturbing incident unfolded during a stag do where a police officer is accused of raping a stranger in the water, according to testimony presented in court.
The accused, Laurence Knight, allegedly committed the assault after his group had enjoyed the company of strippers at their rented Airbnb accommodation.
Knight, 34, and his friends met the woman in the city center in July 2021 and later shared a moment together, sipping wine on Brighton Beach.
Due to Covid restrictions, several nightclubs and bars were still closed, leaving limited options for entertainment.
Claiming to have had a disappointing evening, Knight, stationed at North London’s Stoke Newington Police Station, allegedly convinced the woman to join him in the sea.
The prosecution revealed that, despite her protests and reminders that he was getting married in two weeks, Knight sexually assaulted her while they were both partially clothed in the water.
“The prosecution maintains that this defendant, taking advantage of a vulnerable woman who was clearly intoxicated, committed the act during his stag night,” stated prosecutor Maryam Syed at the Old Bailey in London.
In distress, the woman confided in her friends, expressing her urgency to contact the authorities.
During questioning by the police, Knight maintained that any interaction had been consensual.
Following his arrest, the case was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Knight, a resident of Leyton in East London, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault.
The trial proceedings are currently ongoing.
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