Former police officer accused of raping woman

A former Lancashire Police officer used emotional blackmail to manipulate a woman he then repeatedly raped, a jury has heard.

Michael Harvey, 63, is alleged to have carried out several assaults on the same woman a decade ago, Preston Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Emma Kehoe said he had already admitted "using police systems" to look up the complainant after first meeting her in a supermarket car park in the early 2010s.

The court heard he went on to tell her he had mental health issues, PTSD and money problems, all of which the prosecution said was designed to get sympathy .

At one point she caught him texting other women, the court heard, but the defendant is said to have told her that he worked within a sex offenders unit and was supporting victims of crime.

She said she eventually became worried about the officer killing himself.

The prosecution claim that because of the psychological abuse the woman suffered, she was not able to give consent for sex and was raped several times.

'Psychological abuse'

Giving evidence, the woman told the court: "I didn't have any energy to fight anymore. I was so stressed. I was worried if I did anything wrong, he wouldn't be here anymore."

Ms Kehoe said Mr Harvey's "psychological abuse" meant that the woman's "ability to consent to sexual activity no longer existed".

"She was a pawn, a vessel for his abuse," she said.

"The defendant pulled on her heart strings, there were issues with his health and his mental health. He told her he was sick from work and receiving counselling for PTSD. He also said he was struggling for money.

"The prosecution say that it is clear now that all of that was designed to gain sympathy and ensure his place in her life was secure.

"This emotional abuse continued over many years. The defendant's behaviour was unpredictable, he used emotional blackmail."

The trial continues.