A Metropolitan Police sergeant stands accused of an appalling crime, as he allegedly raped a woman in the sea during his stag-do in Brighton. The court heard that Laurence Knight, 34, committed the assault after being entertained by strippers at their Airbnb in the seaside town. The encounter took place on July 17, 2021, when Covid-19 social distancing measures were still in effect. Knight and the woman went into the sea together, but he allegedly proceeded to move her underwear to the side and rape her after she mentioned his impending wedding.
The woman described the ordeal as uncomfortable and painful. She repeatedly asked Knight to stop, but he ignored her pleas. Knight, who was based at Stoke Newington Police Station in North London at the time, is now denying the charges of rape and sexual assault.
According to the prosecution, Knight and the complainant were strangers who coincidentally met in the early hours of that fateful day. The woman and her friends had planned to go to the beach and brought along a bottle of wine to enjoy on the seafront. Knight, on the other hand, was celebrating his stag night with a group of friends. They had earlier encountered strippers at their Airbnb and had then gone out to the bars in Brighton, only to find limited options due to the pandemic restrictions.
As both groups journeyed toward the seafront, the complainant helped Knight’s group find a place to drink. She displayed friendliness by sharing her wine and engaging in friendly physical contact, such as hugging. At one point, she even held hands with Knight. However, they eventually continued their walk separately.
The woman later told the police that she had initially declined Knight’s proposal to go into the sea. However, he insisted, using his stag night as an excuse and claiming that his evening was turning into a disappointment. Begrudgingly, she agreed, not wanting to get her dress wet, and entered the water in her underwear. At that point, they were merely treading water and not touching each other.
But things took a horrifying turn when Knight approached her from behind, causing immense discomfort and pain. Despite her clear pleas for him to stop, he remained silent and continuous with his assault. Shocked and disoriented, the woman couldn’t react effectively and only attempted to move away from him. Knight quickly exited the water, retrieved his clothes, and left the scene. The woman, keeping the incident to herself, informed her friends that she needed to call the police.
Following Knight’s arrest, the Metropolitan Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which decided that the misconduct investigation should be led by the Met itself. Knight, residing in Leyton, East London, continues to deny the charges.
The prosecution contends that Knight took advantage of the victim’s intoxicated state and violated her without consent. As a seasoned police officer, he should have understood and respected the concept of consent. However, instead of taking responsibility, Knight has attempted to shift blame onto the woman, claiming that she touched him, and later revised his statement to suggest that he merely touched her underwear. The prosecution maintains that these claims are unfounded.
The trial is ongoing, and the woman seeks justice for the harrowing experience she endured on that night in Brighton.
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