Essex Police constable had intimate relationship with witness, jury told

The first day of the trial was at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday

A serving police officer pursued an "intimate" relationship with a witness, a court heard.

PC Georgie Bean, of Essex Police, contacted the woman to collect a statement, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

The pair later exchanged messages and Mr Bean told the woman she was "good looking" and "pretty", jurors heard.

Mr Bean, 32, of Fitzstephen Road, Dagenham, east London, denies one count of misconduct in public office.

Prosecutor Rebecca Thomas said the contact between Mr Bean and the witness happened between 1 November and 31 December in 2020.

'Abuse of trust'

She said Mr Bean "wilfully misconducted himself by having a intimate relationship with a witness at the same time the crime was being investigated".

In her opening statement to jurors, she said: "It is the crown's case that by beginning a relationship he misconducted himself to such degree that was an abuse of the public trust in him."

Mr Bean was a serving PC in Basildon in 2020 and has since been suspended.

The court heard the woman was a witness to an incident in September 2020 and Mr Bean had been appointed as the main officer in the case.

Mr Bean was responsible for collecting evidence and organised a time to get the statement from her.

The court heard that Mr Bean had given the victim his personal number and sent a picture of his face and a picture of himself in his uniform.

Ms Thomas also said the woman had sent an image of herself to Mr Bean.

Mr Bean allegedly went to the victim's house to get a statement in relation to the incident and then returned later that day while he was off-duty, the court was told.

It is alleged Mr Bean kissed and cuddled the woman.

The woman had also touched Mr Bean over his underwear, the court heard.

She went on to withdraw her statement in the investigation.

The trial continues.