Police officer attacked woman in alley, court told

A Sussex police officer pinned a woman to a wall in an alleyway and sexually assaulted her, a court has heard.

Former inspector Mike Sinden, 36, of Hove, East Sussex, and the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been drinking heavily in bars in Eastbourne as part of a group, Hove Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Rachel Beckett told the court the woman said "no" after the defendant pushed her up against a wall outside a cocktail bar and tried to kiss her.

Ms Beckett told the court: "The defendant said to her 'you're saying no, but I think you're actually saying yes'."

Ms Beckett told the jury: "[The woman] was still trying to get away from him."

The court heard the woman had felt uncomfortable being next to Mr Sinden earlier in the evening and told a friend the next day she had been sexually assaulted.

"The defendant kept trying to put his arm around her," Ms Beckett said.

Following the incident, the woman told friends she wanted to go home.

"The defendant walked alongside the complainant and said to her 'oh do you hate me now?'.

"She did not respond," Ms Beckett said.

In a police interview, he gave a prepared statement and answered no comment to all questions.

The jury were told the court was hearing the case for a second time after a first trial in 2023.

Mr Sinden, who worked as an inspector in custody suites across Sussex, denies the charge of sexual assault by penetration.

The trial continues.

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