A Sussex police officer, PC Thomas Rendell, 23, has been charged with rape and three other sexual offences involving a girl aged 13 to 15. Rendell is set to appear before Guildford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 4 February.
The charges against Rendell include 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 a girl aged 13 to 15. These alleged offences occurred between 1 February and 30 June 2022.
At the time of the alleged offences, Rendell was not a serving Sussex Police officer. He was based in the East Sussex division and is currently suspended from duty.
The matter has been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct, which directed a local investigation by the Professional Standards Department. Sussex Police will consider misconduct proceedings once the criminal proceedings have concluded.
