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West Yorkshire Police officer denies rapes and child sex assault West Yorkshire Police officer denies rapes and child sex assault
(4 months later)
West Yorkshire Police officer PC Joe Lavender is due to stand trial in SeptemberWest Yorkshire Police officer PC Joe Lavender is due to stand trial in September
A police officer has denied raping three different women and indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 14.A police officer has denied raping three different women and indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 14.
PC Joe Lavender, who works for West Yorkshire Police, has been charged with six counts of rape and two counts of indecently assaulting a child.PC Joe Lavender, who works for West Yorkshire Police, has been charged with six counts of rape and two counts of indecently assaulting a child.
The 43-year-old, of Orchard Grove in Castleford, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him when he appeared at York Crown Court on Friday. The 43-year-old, from Castleford, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him when he appeared at York Crown Court on Friday.
He is due to stand trial at the same court on 8 September.He is due to stand trial at the same court on 8 September.
He is alleged to have committed five offences of rape between September 2002 and July 2003, with another in January 2024.He is alleged to have committed five offences of rape between September 2002 and July 2003, with another in January 2024.
The indecent assault is alleged to have taken place between May 2002 and September 2002.The indecent assault is alleged to have taken place between May 2002 and September 2002.
The court heard PC Lavender had been suspended from duty pending an investigation.The court heard PC Lavender had been suspended from duty pending an investigation.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.