A police sergeant charged with rape while on duty in Plymouth used to cover two North Watford beats.

Hertfordshire Police Sergeant David Stansbury is charged with three counts of rape of a woman aged 16 or older in relation to alleged incidents in Plymouth in 2009, while he was on duty.

He was a serving Devon & Cornwall Police Constable at the time of the alleged offences.

The 42-year-old was suspended from duty on October 26, 2021, and the charges have been under investigation since being reported to Devon & Cornwall Police in September 2020.

PS Stansbury, of Ilminster, Somerset, had worked within the North Watford Safer Neighbourhood Team.

In his first five months, from late 2012, he covered Leggatts before swapping to Woodside.

He had also worked as an intervention officer, responding to 999 calls in the Hertsmere area, and most recently worked within Welwyn Hatfield’s Safer Neighbourhood Team.

The officer is due to appear before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (April 19).

Devon and Cornwall Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary asked anyone with information they feel may assist the investigation to contact Crimestoppers by calling freephone 0800 555 111 or by filling in an online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.