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Police officer posed as gas man to visit woman, court hears Gwent PC in gas man sham asked woman about sex - court
(5 days later)
Police officer Luke Silver told a woman he worked for housing provider Pobl, a court heardPolice officer Luke Silver told a woman he worked for housing provider Pobl, a court heard
A Gwent Police officer pretended to be a gas engineer and visited a woman he had dealt with a year before, quizzing her about her sex life, a court heard.A Gwent Police officer pretended to be a gas engineer and visited a woman he had dealt with a year before, quizzing her about her sex life, a court heard.
Luke Silver, 33, told her he worked for housing provider Pobl and wanted to do a safety check, according to prosecutors.Luke Silver, 33, told her he worked for housing provider Pobl and wanted to do a safety check, according to prosecutors.
His defence said he was not dressed as a gas man but in a "half blues" police uniform and was there to ask for help getting a cat.His defence said he was not dressed as a gas man but in a "half blues" police uniform and was there to ask for help getting a cat.
Mr Silver, from Pembroke, denies four allegations of corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges by a constable, and three of unauthorised access to computer data.Mr Silver, from Pembroke, denies four allegations of corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges by a constable, and three of unauthorised access to computer data.
When he arrived dressed as a gas engineer, the woman, from Cwmbran, in Torfaen, immediately recognised Mr Silver as the officer who dealt with her in July 2021, Cardiff Crown Court heard.When he arrived dressed as a gas engineer, the woman, from Cwmbran, in Torfaen, immediately recognised Mr Silver as the officer who dealt with her in July 2021, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
She had been arrested on suspicion of common assault and he drove her home after she was freed from custody without charge.She had been arrested on suspicion of common assault and he drove her home after she was freed from custody without charge.
The woman said she was a domestic violence victim, with PTSD and autism.The woman said she was a domestic violence victim, with PTSD and autism.
She claimed he asked about her sex life during the car journey and gave her his phone number.She claimed he asked about her sex life during the car journey and gave her his phone number.
During the trip he started talking about sex.During the trip he started talking about sex.
The woman said: "He asked me what sexual positions I enjoyed. He told me what positions he enjoyed."The woman said: "He asked me what sexual positions I enjoyed. He told me what positions he enjoyed."
On arriving at her house posing as a gas engineer a year later, the court was told, he went inside to carry out a safety check.On arriving at her house posing as a gas engineer a year later, the court was told, he went inside to carry out a safety check.
Later she texted the number he gave her, the court heard, but received no reply.Later she texted the number he gave her, the court heard, but received no reply.
She did not formally report the police car conversation she said, adding: "I didn't think I would hear from him again, I brushed it off."She did not formally report the police car conversation she said, adding: "I didn't think I would hear from him again, I brushed it off."
The court heard she remembered him when he knocked on her door in July 2022 claiming to be from Pobl and felt scared.The court heard she remembered him when he knocked on her door in July 2022 claiming to be from Pobl and felt scared.
"He was there in a completely different uniform," she said."He was there in a completely different uniform," she said.
Mr Silver, the court heard, asked to use the toilet before returning to the lounge.Mr Silver, the court heard, asked to use the toilet before returning to the lounge.
The woman said: "He asked if I missed having sex. He said, he missed having sex for three years. I said I was pretty happy being on my own."The woman said: "He asked if I missed having sex. He said, he missed having sex for three years. I said I was pretty happy being on my own."
The woman told the court Mr Silver "brushed" her leg with his hand.The woman told the court Mr Silver "brushed" her leg with his hand.
"I had shivers down my spine," she said."I had shivers down my spine," she said.
She said she remembered thinking Mr Silver was a police officer and that he was being "inappropriate".She said she remembered thinking Mr Silver was a police officer and that he was being "inappropriate".
On leaving, she said he asked to give her a hug.On leaving, she said he asked to give her a hug.
"I'm not a huggy person," she told the court she replied."I'm not a huggy person," she told the court she replied.
Between March and May 2022, the jury heard, the woman said Mr Silver came to her house with a police colleague conducting door-to-door inquiries.Between March and May 2022, the jury heard, the woman said Mr Silver came to her house with a police colleague conducting door-to-door inquiries.
She said she believed he was trying to find out about her life and children.She said she believed he was trying to find out about her life and children.
After the third encounter in July 2022 she contacted police.After the third encounter in July 2022 she contacted police.
A second woman was so unnerved by Mr Silver she dropped charges against her abusive former partner, the court heard, so the officer had no reason to visit.A second woman was so unnerved by Mr Silver she dropped charges against her abusive former partner, the court heard, so the officer had no reason to visit.
She said she met him in February 2022 after reporting her cocaine addict ex-partner.She said she met him in February 2022 after reporting her cocaine addict ex-partner.
He had locked her in her home and stolen her car, the court heard.He had locked her in her home and stolen her car, the court heard.
Mr Silver called himself, she said, her domestic violence officer, asked whether she and her former partner were sexually active and if he was "any good."Mr Silver called himself, she said, her domestic violence officer, asked whether she and her former partner were sexually active and if he was "any good."
The woman claimed Mr Silver asked if she was "dominant in the bedroom."The woman claimed Mr Silver asked if she was "dominant in the bedroom."
The jury was told he called her "stunning" and disclosed he had not had sex for a long time.The jury was told he called her "stunning" and disclosed he had not had sex for a long time.
The jury were played a video where she told detectives Mr Silver visited her home several times.The jury were played a video where she told detectives Mr Silver visited her home several times.
During one interview she said he asked her about her breast size.During one interview she said he asked her about her breast size.
She said: "It was just horrible. I didn't like it, my children were there. I thought, he's coming on to me."She said: "It was just horrible. I didn't like it, my children were there. I thought, he's coming on to me."
When Mr Silver arranged to take a statement, the court heard, she asked a friend to be with her, writing a message saying: "The creepy police officer wants to come down again."When Mr Silver arranged to take a statement, the court heard, she asked a friend to be with her, writing a message saying: "The creepy police officer wants to come down again."
The court heard she let him make repeated visits because, "I needed to keep him on side to help me."The court heard she let him make repeated visits because, "I needed to keep him on side to help me."
The case continues.The case continues.