Police officer charged with raping teenage girl

A Sussex police officer has been charged with raping a teenage girl, the force has said.

PC Thomas Rendell, 23, has also been charged with three other sexual offences, including attempting to cause a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 and engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with girl aged 13 to 15.

The alleged incidents took place between 1 February and 30 June 2022, Sussex Police said.

The officer, who was based on East Sussex division, is suspended from duty, but he was not a serving police officer at the time of the alleged offences, they added.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) which said that a local investigation by the Professional Standards Department should be conducted.

The force added they would consider misconduct proceedings once the criminal proceedings have concluded.

PC Rendell is due to appear before Guildford Magistrates' Court on 4 February.

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