TV show police officer denies sexual offences
PC Matthew Tregale appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday
- Published
A police officer who was in TV show Call the Cops has appeared in court charged with 14 offences including attempted rape, false imprisonment and sexual activity with a child.
PC Matthew Tregale, 35, is accused of committing offences against three women and a child in Devon between 2005 and 2021.
He appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday and denies all charges.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed Mr Tregale had been suspended from duty.
'Beyond the law'
The court heard from Kannan Siva for the prosecution who said Mr Tregale was a "bully" who "took advantage of women".
Mr Siva said the defendant had wanted to join the police from a young age, and his "pride in being a police officer" had become "elevated to such an extent that he thought he was beyond the law".
The jury was told Mr Tregale, from Exeter, had appeared in a Channel 4 documentary series Call the Cops in 2019.
Mr Siva said one of the alleged victims had been upset when she heard about his appearance on the show and decided to report his behaviour.
It was Mr Tregale's “desire to be seen as a hero” which had led to “the other side of his personality being revealed”, the prosecution said.
The jury heard the first 10 counts are in relation to one complainant.
These charges are of attempted rape, two counts of sexual assault, four counts of assault by penetration, two counts of false imprisonment and putting a person in fear of violence by harassment.
Two counts of controlling or coercive behaviour are in relation to two other alleged victims and include allegations that Mr Tregale attempted to use police restraint techniques on one woman, and threatened to reveal private information about the other woman.
Two counts of sexual activity with a child are in relation to alleged sexual touching of a 15 year-old girl on at least three occasions.
The jury was told it would be the defence case the alleged behaviour "did not happen at all".
The trial continues.
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