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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| PC Declan Gabriel cleared of sex offence charges | PC Declan Gabriel cleared of sex offence charges |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A police officer has been cleared of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl while on duty. | A police officer has been cleared of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl while on duty. |
| Jurors at Northampton Crown Court found PC Declan Gabriel, 28, not guilty of rape and two connected sexual assault charges. | Jurors at Northampton Crown Court found PC Declan Gabriel, 28, not guilty of rape and two connected sexual assault charges. |
| Prosecutors had claimed he sexually assaulted the 17-year-old twice and forced her to perform an oral sex act. | Prosecutors had claimed he sexually assaulted the 17-year-old twice and forced her to perform an oral sex act. |
| The jury was discharged from delivering a verdict on a fourth charge of misconduct in a public office. | The jury was discharged from delivering a verdict on a fourth charge of misconduct in a public office. |
| Prosecutor Matthew Lowe had told the court PC Gabriel admitted a conversation about sex with the girl which had made him aroused. | Prosecutor Matthew Lowe had told the court PC Gabriel admitted a conversation about sex with the girl which had made him aroused. |
| However, PC Gabriel gave evidence saying the teenager sexually assaulted him, but he had been too "scared and embarrassed" to report it. | However, PC Gabriel gave evidence saying the teenager sexually assaulted him, but he had been too "scared and embarrassed" to report it. |
| His barrister, Steven Evans, also told the court the girl's evidence contained "several demonstrable lies". | His barrister, Steven Evans, also told the court the girl's evidence contained "several demonstrable lies". |
| The prosecution has 14 days to consider whether to seek a re-trial on the misconduct charge. | The prosecution has 14 days to consider whether to seek a re-trial on the misconduct charge. |
| Ch Supt Mick Stamper, from Northamptonshire Police, said the force accepted the verdict. | |
| "We will now discuss the outcome of this process with the Crown Prosecution Service to determine the next course of action," he added. | |
| "The court process is still ongoing and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further." |