| Hutton review: unions warn of strikes over pension reform Lord Hutton recommends end to final salary schemes and increase in contributions from public sector workers. telegraph.co.uk |
Constable raped woman over four years using blackmail, court hears Complainant tells Newscastle court that Northumberland officer threatened to reveal benefit fraud if she didn't complyA former drug addict has told a court that a uniformed male police officer handcuffed her hands behind her back and then raped her in her home.Pc Stephen Mitchell kept her under his control for four years after he assaulted her in a police station interview room when she had been arrested, Newcastle crown court was told.The woman, in her 30s and now a postgraduate after years of being clean of heroin, said Mitchell gave her money for the drug when she was trying to quit.The 42-year-old Northumbria police officer from Glasgow, denies five counts of rape, six indecent assaults and 15 counts of misconduct in a public office, alleged to have occurred over seven years between 1999 and 2006.The witness, one of 16 complainants, said he raped her for a final time when she saw him seven years ago.She told the court she asked him repeatedly to hand over CCTV footage he claimed to have of her fraudulently cashing a benefits cheque at a post office in Pennywell, Sunderland.By this time she had a job and a flat and was terrified she could lose it all if the tape emerged.Giving evidence from behind a screen, she described how Mitchell handcuffed her, claiming he was arresting her for the benefit fraud.As she became hysterical, she told the jury, he said he would "give me something to cry for" and raped her."He said he would teach me a lesson," she said."(That) it was my own fault. (That) I was a junkie, nobody would ever believe me."I knew there was no way out of the situation, to stop the pain. I was hysterical."She first encountered Mitchell in 1999 when he arrested her for obtaining property by deception. She was taken to Pilgrim Street police station, Newcastle, where he suggested that in return for him not charging her for some offences she would perform a sex act on him.The witness said she did not initially understand what he meant as she was a lesbian and had never engaged in sexual activity with a man.Afterwards, the court heard, Mitchell threatened to tell his victim's partner about what had happened or arrest her.Over the next years, she claimed, Mitchell regularly made her perform a sex act in his car.On one occasion, parked on a dirt track near Sunderland, they were seen by two women on horseback who shouted: "You are disgusting, move or we will call the police."Mitchell helped her find a place at a drug rehabilitation centre, she told the court. But she knew she would lose her place if the post office tape emerged and she was charged with an offence."I always had so much to lose," she said. "Especially when I was trying to get into the rehab centre. I knew if I had charges they wouldn't take me. It was a vicious circle."On one occasion he took her out of the rehab centre to buy heroin despite her being clean. He gave her £25 and she bought a bag from a local dealer, later flushing it down the toilet, she said.She claimed he undermined her attempt to kick heroin, saying to her: "You know in your heart of hearts, this is not going to work. You have tried before. In a nutshell you are a failure."She said she didn't find him attractive but felt "I didn't have a choice because of what I'd lose".The case continues.Helen Carterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Crime in England and Wales falls Recorded crime in England and Wales has fallen by 8% over the past year, official figures show. bbc.co.uk |
Next apologises after birthmark baby rejected from modelling contest Next, the High Street fashion store, has apologised to a mother after her baby was rejected from a modelling contest because the judges mistook a birthmark for make-up. telegraph.co.uk |
Strauss buoyant after Gabba draw Andrew Strauss says England have the belief to push on and win the Ashes after drawing the opening Test. news.bbc.co.uk |