Police constable on trial for alleged sexual assault after saying she needed consent

Bristol Crown Court is hearing a trial involving Fiona Anderson, a 33-year-old constable with Devon and Cornwall Police, accused of two counts of sexual assault stemming from an incident in Cardiff in 2018. The complainant testified that Anderson, heavily intoxicated, entered her bedroom, kissed and bit her, and removed her underwear before performing non-consensual oral sex and vomiting in the bathroom. She recalled Anderson saying, “I know the law and I need you to say yes,” despite the victim’s clear refusal.

Anderson, who has been suspended since her March 2023 arrest, maintains she did not engage in any non-consensual activity. Her lawyer, Jenny Tallentire, questioned whether the victim was angry about the drinking and vomiting, which the victim denied, stating she was angry about the assault. Prosecutor Emma Martin outlined the timeline of the evening and the victim’s ongoing struggle to reconcile the event. The trial, projected to span four days, continues without a verdict.