Leicestershire Police officer denies two counts of raping women
Stephen Reynolds is currently suspended
A police constable from Leicestershire has appeared in court to deny charges that he raped a woman.
Stephen Reynolds, 28, who is currently suspended from Leicestershire Police, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday afternoon.
He denied two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration during a short hearing in front of Judge David Herbert KC.
The offences are alleged to have happened in 2019 and relate to an adult female victim who was known to the defendant, Leicestershire Police said previously.
Judge Herbert told Reynolds, of Stoney Stanton in Leicestershire, he would not be able to face a trial until next year due to a backlog of cases and renewed his bail with conditions not to contact the victim.
He said: "The earliest trial we can get is March 30 next year, I'm afraid, but that is rather earlier compared to other courts.
"Keep in touch with your solicitors in the meantime.
"Make sure you come to the trial. If you don't, you will commit a bail act offence. You will know that."
He added: "You may go now, thank you Mr Reynolds."
The trial is expected to last for five days.