Court hearing: A police officer sexually harassed a woman in an alley that evening
A Sussex Police inspector allegedly told a woman as he sexually assaulted her: “You’re saying no, but I think you’re actually saying yes,” a court has heard.
On the first day of the trial at Hove Crown Court, jurors heard how Mike Sinden, 35, of Kinfauns Avenue, pulled the woman he knew into an alleyway.
The couple enjoyed an evening with friends and colleagues in Eastbourne on March 10, 2022.
Rachel Beckett, prosecuting, told the court how the alleged victim said “no” several times as Sinden pushed her against the wall and tried to kiss her, sticking his hands into her dress and underwear after the couple left a club had to smoke a cigarette.
I definitely said no to you
As other members of the group left the club, she told the defendant they were coming and left the alley.
The court also heard Sinden came up next to the woman and said: “Oh, do you hate me now?”
Sinden denies the claim and said in a prepared statement to police that it was “completely consensual.”
The group had been drinking in a number of pubs in Eastbourne from 3pm before heading off to karaoke later that evening at the Eastbourne Cocktail Club, where the alleged incident occurred.
After the evening, Sinden messaged the woman he knew saying he hoped she “didn’t feel bad” about the evening, to which she replied: “I don’t feel great about any of it.” I try to forget it. I definitely said no to you.”
In messages also read out in court, Sinden replied: “Everyone was drunk and I won’t mention it again.”
The process continues.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/police-officer-hove-crown-court-sussex-police-eastbourne-b1104975.html Court hearing: A police officer sexually harassed a woman in an alley that evening
