A police constable with Devon and Cornwall Police is on trial accused of two counts of sexual assault that allegedly occurred in 2018 while she was visiting Cardiff. The officer, Fiona Anderson, 33, denies the charges.
During the opening of the trial at Bristol Crown Court, prosecutor Emma Martin told the jury that Anderson was described as "disgustingly drunk" on the night in question. The jury heard that Anderson allegedly performed oral sex on the other woman without consent, despite the complainant stating, "I don't want to have sex with you." Anderson is accused of persisting and being "rougher" with the alleged victim, removing her underwear.
"Fiona said these words to her, 'I know the law, I need you to say yes,'" Ms. Martin told the court. The prosecution stated that the complainant was physically not reciprocating and made it clear she did not want any sexual contact. The complainant felt unable to turn to anyone for help because Anderson was a police officer, the court heard.
Prosecutors said it was clear the woman "did not want any sexual contact with her," and that Anderson "carried on anyway." The complainant reportedly told police in a video interview that she struggled to understand and get past what happened to her. Ms. Martin described the alleged incident as having "crossed the line from one-sided sexual advance to sexual offending." The complainant informed the police about the alleged sexual assault in March 2023, when speaking to an officer about an unrelated incident in a pub. The trial is expected to last four days.