Victim shown explicit video of herself in rape trial

The alleged victim is a female police officer

A woman who alleges rape has been shown a video of herself performing a solo sex act, filmed by the police officer she is accusing.

The court was shown the explicit video of the victim, recorded by the defendant.

Sgt Richard Heard, 44, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape and three counts of voyeurism.

His alleged victim, a female police officer, has been giving evidence at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The incidents are claimed to have happened between January 2022 and August 2023.

Defending, Matthew Butt KC, showed the victim a list of recordings and images of herself taken by the accused.

The public gallery was cleared and the explicit video shown to the victim, the jury and the media.

While being questioned by the defence, the victim said she did not remember Sgt Heard recording her on the 16 August 2022, around the time the second rape allegedly took place.

When asked about the video, the victim said she "didn't remember" it being filmed but acknowledged it was an "important detail".

After the video was shown, Judge Susan Evans KC told the court: "I think the complainant is going to find it quite hard to watch another video."

Lawyers for the accused instead read a description of a further video, recorded on the same date as the previous one.

Mr Butt KC, said the victim could be seen putting her hand over the camera and he suggested "sex was entirely consensual."

The victim replied: "No."

She had previously told the court she wished her own phone had been recording, on the occasion of the second alleged rape.

A different video of the pair was also described to the court, taken on the date of the third alleged rape, 2 September 2022.

The victim told the court "I just remember asking him to put the phone away".

Explicit photographs of the victim, taken by Mr Heard were also described to the court.

Sgt Heard is also standing trial for assault by beating, perverting the course of justice and faces a further count of malicious communication against a second victim.

The offences are all alleged to have happened between January 2022 and August 2023, while he was off duty.

Sgt Heard has been suspended by Hampshire Constabulary.

The trial continues.