Sussex police officer charged with rape

A Sussex police officer has been charged with rape and three other sexual offences.

PC Thomas Rendell, 23, will appear before Guildford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 4 February charged with raping a girl aged 13 to 15, attempting to cause a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 and engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with girl aged 13 to 15 from 1 February to 30 June 2022.

Rendell was not a serving Sussex Police officer at the time of the alleged offences.

The officer, who was based on East Sussex division, remains suspended from duty.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct who directed that a local investigation by the Professional Standards Department should be conducted.

The force will consider misconduct proceedings once the criminal proceedings have concluded.