A former policeman accused of abusing a ten-year-old girl while on duty more than thirty years ago insisted the allegations were untrue.
Robert Philip Rowlands told a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court the four charges of indecency with a child he faces are a “total fabrication”.
Giving evidence on the second day of the trial Rowlands, now 65, and of Llawr y Dref,Llangefni said he served at Deeside Police Station for about nine years from 1979 until he retired on grounds of ill-health from North Wales Police .
On the opening day of the trial the complainant, a woman now aged 45, told the jury the alleged offences happened twice in a derelict building in Shotton and twice in a garage near her home.
During another incident Rowlands was said to have picked her up in a police car and told her to crouch in the back while he drove her to the building.
The woman told no one of the incidents fearing no one would believe her because Rowlands was a policeman.
An older boy was aware of the offences and was nearby when two of the alleged attacks took place. He told the jury he recognised the officer as “Bob”.
Asked by his barrister Simon Mintz if he committed the alleged offences Rowlands said: “No sir, they are total lies.”
“Did you do anything to this young girl for your sexual gratification?” asked Mr Mintz.
“No sir, I would never do that,” Rowlands replied.
Arrested last year Rowlands refused to answer detectives questions but gave a prepared statement in which he said he recalled the girl as someone he had quizzed about a break-in at Connahs Quay High School.
Cross examined by prosecutor Karl Scholz Rowlands was asked why he could remember the girl’s name of the many hundreds of people he would have met during his police service.
“I suggest you recall her name because of what you did to her,” the lawyer said.
“No sir,” said Rowlands, “all I know if that they are a total fabrication.”
The court has heard Rowlands had developed a “significant drink problem” towards the end of his police service and had been disciplined in 1985 for being drunk on duty.
Rowlands insisted that had been an isolated incident although he agreed he had been a regular at the Castle pub in Shotton.
Making his closing speech Mr Mintz urged the jury to consider the inconsistencies in the evidence of the woman and the opportunities she had missed to report the matter to the authorities.
“You have to be sure of guilt and from the evidence heard this case is built on shifting sands,” he said.
Addressing the woman’s silence about the alleged offences for over 30 years Mr Scholz said some victims of sexual abuse report the incidents immediately while others will never tell anyone
The trial continues.
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/ex-deeside-policeman-accused-child-11504233
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