Arabnews24.ca:Thursday 1 December 2022 01:27 PM: An off-duty police officer left a woman feeling "numb and disgusted" after raping her at the roadside, a court has heard.
Special Constable Paul Hoile's alleged victim told Wolverhampton Crown Court she had no choice but to answer his "aggressive" questions after he twice produced his warrant card.
She said the volunteer Metropolitan Police officer appeared to be drunk during the encounter in Shropshire and that she had not consented to sexual activity with him.
The 40-year-old, from Essex, denies three counts of rape relating to the same incident, and claims consensual activity took place "without fuss" after he and a friend approached the stranger at night in July.
The complainant in the case told jurors on Thursday that she was instructed not to drive and told to book a taxi by Hoile, leaving her feeling uncomfortable and anxious.
She said that after questioning her about her driving licence, Hoile went "from just like asking questions to 'oh I caught you'."
Shielded by a curtain from Hoile's view and the public gallery, the woman told the court: "I asked 'could I see your badge or your ID'.
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"It was begrudging. He was fumbling to try and get it. I saw the card... the picture, and I saw the badge as well.
"I couldn't see his name. After a couple more questions I was like is that actually real? On the second time... he still covered it (his name)."
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Asked by Caroline Goodwin KC, prosecuting, why she had answered Hoile's questions, the woman said: "I had no choice. He is a police officer. I felt like I had to."
She told the court Hoile's friend had initially acted as a "wingman" during the questioning but "dropped that act" very quickly and himself became "scared or taken aback" after the officer took away her phone for more than a minute.
Saying she had not given Hoile permission to carry out a sexual act, the woman said she had left the immediate area where her vehicle was because she "didn't want him to get any more aggressive than he was already".
"I didn't want him anywhere near me if I could help it," she said.
"He was being aggressive and demanding. He was getting progressively more annoyed that I wasn't doing what I was being told (to go to the taxi)."
The woman told the jury that Hoile claimed to have saved her from an accident and mentioned that he had controlled crowds at Wembley Stadium.
'Loud, annoyed, very unprofessional'
Asked to recall Hoile's manner before the alleged rapes, she said he had been "loud, annoyed, very unprofessional for a police officer ... more like a drunk".
As they walked towards the scene of the alleged assaults, the woman said Hoile, who was stumbling, remained very aggressive and domineering and "had made up his mind and that's what was happening".
Asked why she had not attempted to flee, the woman added: "I know my limits. I wouldn't go far. He would catch up and then get more aggressive."
She said she had "no choice" but to perform oral sex at the roadside, had not said anything to encourage what happened, and had "humoured" her alleged attacker because she "didn't want a repeat of him getting angry".
Ms Goodwin asked the woman: "How did you feel after that episode with him?"
The woman, who cannot be identified, answered: "Numb and disgusted... shocked, scared."
During cross-examination by Hoile's counsel, the woman rejected the suggestion that she had made a complaint because she felt "rejected and used" by him following the alleged rapes.
Prosecutors say Hoile abused and was "hiding behind" his police powers in speaking to the woman as she prepared to drive away from him.
'One of those things'
A transcript of a police interview with Hoile was read to the court, where he told officers he had "just made conversation" with the woman after meeting her by chance, and wasn't using his badge "to show any force".
Hoile told the interviewing officers: "There was no motive. I didn't need to get involved. It was literally one of those things. I wasn't using my powers.
"I didn't put myself on duty... there was no caution, there was nothing. I said 'If you don't think you're insured, just get a taxi'.
"I forced her to do absolutely nothing - nothing at all, zero. I would never ever force anyone to do anything."
Hoile, of The Chase, Benfleet, denies misconduct in public office, three counts of oral and anal rape, and a charge of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
The trial continues.
