Met volunteer 'wanted to fulfil woman's fantasies'

Gwyn Samuels (right) now identifies as a woman but was known as James Bubb at the time of the alleged offences

A Metropolitan Police volunteer officer has told a court he "wanted to fulfil the fantasies" of a woman he is accused of raping.

The 27-year-old, who was born a man named James Bubb but now identifies as a woman called Gwyn Samuels, would re-enact rape "scenes" with the alleged victim, but told a Crown Court trial in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, that she consented.

The defendant said he would sometimes try police restraint techniques on the woman, but would not use full power, the court heard.

Mr Bubb, of High Street, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, is currently suspended from the force, and stands accused of raping two different people between 2018 and 2024.

The court has previously heard that the defendant and alleged victims would be referred to by their biological sex throughout the trial.

Giving evidence on Thursday, Mr Bubb said the relationship with the woman "developed into a friends-with-benefits situation".

He said she wanted to try re-enacting rape and using knives during sex.

"I wanted to fulfil her fantasies," the defendant said.

"I would run the blunt end of a knife along her body. I always made it very clear that she could use her safe words. I was always acutely aware of her body language.

"I'm not into rape fantasies. It's not something that has ever interested me.

"I did not rape her. We had very clearly discussed before what the limits were."

Asked if he had been manipulative during the relationship, Mr Bubb said: "No, I wouldn't describe myself that way at all."

A judge is overseeing the trial at Amersham Law Courts

Mr Bubb, who said his early years were "troubled", was adopted at a young age, the court heard.

After finishing his A-levels, Mr Bubb studied stage management at drama school, and starting training with the Met in 2020.

He changed his name in December 2024. "That's when I started fully living in my current identity," the police volunteer said.

The defendant has denied one count of rape in relation to one complainant, and two counts of rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, one count of rape of a child under 13, and one count of assault by penetration in relation to the other complainant.

The defendant denies all the charges, which relate to offences alleged to have taken place between 1 January 2018 and 2 April 2024.

The trial continues.