Ex-Met officer trained in sex crime support faces rape trial at Southwark Crown Court

Mark Tyrrell, 57, denies rape and sexual assault charges against a woman over two years. He had been trained in Sexual Offences Investigation Techniques.

Former Metropolitan Police officer with sexual offences training accused of rape

A former Metropolitan Police officer who received specialist training in handling sexual offence victims has appeared in court accused of raping a woman, bbc.co.uk reports.

Mark Tyrrell, 57, of Meltham, West Yorkshire, denies two counts of rape, 11 of sexual assault and four of assault by penetration, alleged to have taken place over approximately two years while he was still serving with the force.

Opening the trial at Southwark Crown Court, prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC told jurors that Tyrrell had been trained in Sexual Offences Investigation Techniques — a programme designed to equip officers to work sensitively with victims of sexual crime.

Concerns were first raised when officers attending the woman's home on an unrelated matter found Tyrrell concealed beside her bed. He subsequently phoned her and told her nothing sexual had occurred, the court heard.

Tyrrell also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by attempting to delete messages exchanged between them. In one message, he apologised for "being a sex offender" and for ruining her life, jurors were told. When she urged him not to make such statements, he replied that they were true.

The prosecution alleges he raped the woman by having sex with her after she had repeatedly refused. Farrelly said that afterwards he allegedly asked her whether she understood that what he had done "was rape", adding that he would report himself and would go to prison.

The woman further alleges that on several occasions she woke to find Tyrrell penetrating her, despite having refused sex the previous night. On one such occasion, when she raised the matter, he shouted at her and asked whether she understood what she was saying and what the consequences could be for him.

Jurors heard the woman maintained a written record of incidents involving Tyrrell. In a police interview, she said she had felt pressured by him and feared no-one would believe her, partly because she could not provide proof. She also told police she was concerned that officers would shield him because of his role in the force.

Following his arrest, Tyrrell denied ever having had sex with her.

Tyrrell has admitted misconduct in public office. He has also pleaded guilty to a separate perverting the course of justice charge — specifically, persuading the woman to lie to police about the reason for his presence in her bedroom.

The police watchdog opened an investigation in April 2023 after the Metropolitan Police made a referral. The trial continues.

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)