A former police officer, David Robert Blackbourne, aged 56, from New South Wales, is facing accusations of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at a police station while on duty and in uniform. The alleged incident dates back to 1998 when Blackbourne was 28 years old in a rural town in Australia near the Victoria border.
Blackbourne has pleaded not guilty to charges including assault with acts of indecency, sexual intercourse without consent, and misconduct in public office. The trial commenced on July 20 at the Downing Centre District Court and is anticipated to last five days.
According to the prosecution, the alleged assaults took place after Blackbourne, known to the teenager as ‘Dave,’ offered her and a friend a ride home but stopped at the police station, where they were given alcohol that was purportedly confiscated. Subsequently, Blackbourne is accused of handcuffing the girl, kissing her without consent, and engaging in sexual intercourse without her consent.
The victim reported the incidents to Victoria police in 2016, which led to Blackbourne’s arrest in 2023 following an investigation by NSW police. In his defense, Barrister Matthew Johnston SC strongly refutes all allegations, denying any involvement in the reported events. The defense challenges the reliability of evidence due to the passage of over two decades since the alleged incidents.
Judge Huw Baker SC emphasized that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution to substantiate the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial is ongoing as the court evaluates the evidence presented.