3 September 2010 Last updated at 08:30 ET

Police officer appears at Devon court on rape charge

Pc Nicholas Stone entered no plea at Exeter Magistrates Court

A police officer has appeared in court charged with raping a woman in Devon.

Pc Nicholas Stone, 40, also faces three misconduct charges. He did not enter pleas at Exeter magistrates court.

The incidents are alleged to have happened when he was serving with the Devon and Cornwall Police force between 1999 and 2001.

Pc Stone, of Pitminster, who now serves with Avon and Somerset Police, was given unconditional bail. He is due at Exeter Crown Court on 17 September.

Internal investigation

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said the officer had been suspended while the case goes through the courts.

Pc Stone is charged with raping a woman at Tiverton, Devon, between 1 June and 31 July 2001.

He is also charged with two counts of misconduct by having sex with the same woman while on duty, and by shouting and assaulting her in 1999.

A fourth charge relates to threatening to arrest another woman in 1999.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "We cannot comment on criminal proceedings while they are taking place."

Avon and Somerset Police said it would carry out an internal investigation.