Second alleged victim speaks in Worcestershire police officer trial

Michael Darbyshire, a serving police constable at the time of the alleged offences, denies rape and five counts of sexual assault that are said to have taken place in Worcestershire and Coventry between August and November 2019.

On day three of the 55-year-old’s trial, the jury heard from the second victim, who alleges she was sexually assaulted in her home twice by Darbyshire on August 29, 2019.

Michael Darbyshire leaving Worcester Crown Court. Photo by Jacob King/PA Wire

The alleged victim said he had seemed nice before Darbyshire came into her home and “his demeanour changed”, before he assaulted her when she had her back to him.

But Earl Pinnock, defending Darbyshire, challenged this version of events saying she had been the one to kiss Darbyshire first, before the pair went upstairs and he wasn’t able to have sex with her.

To that the alleged victim answered she had not kissed him first, it was “not true”, and said she had "only wanted a hug" in the bed.

The victim said she performed a sexual act on Darbyshire in her bedroom explaining: “Yes I did that. The reason I did, I was shocked, I was frightened.

"I thought if I gave him a little bit of what he wanted he would go home.”

Mr Pinnock then put it to her that she became angry because the pair had not had sex, as Darbyshire had not been able to as he did not find her attractive.

The victim said: “No. I told him I had got CCTV.

"He said he would have to go home before it got dark, because I think he had work the next day.”

Mr Pinnock said: “You asked him if something like this (not being able to have sex) had happened before, do you recall that?”

“That is not true,” the victim replied.

“You asked him if he was gay,” the prosecutor said.

“No I didn’t,” she said.

“You put that to him in a mocking, insulting way didn’t you,” Mr Pinnock said.

“No I didn’t, do I look like a mocking and insulting person? I didn’t at all,” she replied.

Michael Darbyshire denies rape and sexual assault. Photo by PA

The pair had met on the Match dating app, and exchanged messages prior to when Darbyshire had been invited to her home.

Mr Pinnock in his cross examination read one message saying: “You can come here for a quick bang then block me”.

Asked what she meant by that the alleged victim replied: “I was joking.

"I didn’t mean anything in particular. It certainly wasn’t an invitation, it was banter.

"I wanted a relationship, I didn’t want to have casual sex.”

Messages were also sent after the meeting, which Mr Pinnock went through.

Highlighting one Mr Pinnock said: “On the following day you say ‘I’m sorry you didn’t like me as I wasn’t perfect or a slapper'. What did you mean by perfect?”

The victim replied: “With me I have got low self confidence.”

The prosecutor said: “Isn't that you telling him you knew he didn’t fancy you?”

“I don’t know, not really, I felt the same way about him," she replied.

“I didn’t really find him very attractive.”

Throughout her evidence the alleged victim was holding back tears as she spoke, at one point being granted a 10 minute break by Judge James Burbridge.

Later in the day, Darbyshire's police interview was read out.

In it, Darbyshire gave his account of the encounter with the first victim, who alleges he sexually assaulted her on November 8, 2019, and twice on November 9 as well as raping her that day.

But Darbyshire said in the interview the sex have been consensual, after she had contacted him and invited him to her home.The trial continues at Worcester Crown Court

He denied she had asked him to stop, and that it had been rough or violent sex.

He added that on the following night: "She tried to have sex with me.

"I didn't want it, I was tired.

"I got the impression from her she wanted more, and I didn't want a relationship. I felt like it was happening too quickly for me.

"She got quite nasty, quite quickly. I thought it was wrong to give her false hope."

The trial continues.