Serving police officer accused of sexually abusing younger woman informed her he was ‘lonely’

A serving police officer informed a younger woman he’s alleged to have abused that he was lonely and needed a girlfriend, a court docket has heard.

John Stringer, 41, who works for Gwent Police in southeast Wales is on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting the woman who’s underneath 13, inflicting or inciting her to have interaction in sexual exercise and inflicting her to look at a sexual act.

The woman’s father informed the court docket how his daughter had described having “inappropriate” conversations with the defendant, as he gave proof on Tuesday at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday.

He informed prosecutor Ian Wright: “There has been events the place she has come to us and stated how John has informed her issues about his personal life that we thought had been a bit bit not fairly proper for a younger woman.

“(She) told us how John told her that he was lonely.”

The woman’s mom informed the jury: “She would say that he’d said he wanted a girlfriend and that he missed his previous partner.

“She would say to me that he would chat to her about his loneliness and that… he was lonely with no girlfriend, and I might say you need not have these conversations, it is probably not applicable.”

She said she queried why an adult would tell a small child they were lonely.

The parents said that although they felt uncomfortable hearing about the conversations between their daughter and the defendant, they did not confront him.

The court previously heard from Mr Wright who said the defendant’s alleged abuse came to light after the girl made a disclosure to a teaching assistant at her primary school.

The school in Cardiff notified her parents and South Wales Police immediately.

Officers from the force then interviewed her on 15 July 2021.

The jury previously watched the girl’s interview with police during which she told an officer that Stringer had touched her inappropriately under a blanket and her clothing and would show her pornographic videos with half-naked women in them and ask her to “mimic” the actions of the performers.

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She told them there had been a break in the alleged offending during two of the COVID lockdowns and when the restrictions eased the sexual abuse resumed.

A transcript of Stringer’s police interview in which he repeatedly denied the girl’s account of events was read to the court by Mr Wright and the officer in the case (OIC) Detective Constable Abbie Voice.

Another witness, who was a friend of the defendant said she had known him for 24 years but had lost contact with him for time when he moved to New Zealand to play rugby.

The woman told the court “he is all the time been quieter” and “a non-public man”.

She said she had “no concern in any respect” about Stringer’s behaviour round kids. Stringer, who’s from Cardiff and was recognized to the woman, has pleaded not responsible to all 5 expenses towards him.

The trial continues.