PC appears in court accused of seven sex assaults

A police officer accused of raping a woman has appeared in court to face further charges of seven sex assaults against a child.

PC Joe Lavender, who works for West Yorkshire Police, appeared at York Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with five counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14.

The 43-year-old is alleged to have committed the crimes against three girls while off duty. The attacks have been described as "non-recent" by his employer.

He has been suspended from duty pending an investigation and was granted conditional bail to appear at York Crown Court on 7 March.

PC Lavender did not enter a plea during Thursday's brief hearing.

The first charge against the officer related to an alleged off-duty offence in Castleford on 21 January 2024, said police.

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