A former police constable, identified as David Robert Blackbourne, aged 56, from New South Wales, is facing accusations of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl while on duty at a police station and in uniform. The incident allegedly took place over two decades ago in 1998 when Blackbourne, then 28 years old, was stationed in a rural town in New South Wales near the Victoria border.
Blackbourne has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with an act 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 for five days.
According to the prosecution, Blackbourne had encounters with the teenage girl, referred to as ‘Dave’, while working on a separate case. In one instance in 1998, Blackbourne and another unidentified officer purportedly provided alcohol to the girls under the guise of confiscated items at a police station. Later, Blackbourne allegedly picked up the teenager, who had recently turned 17, from a pub in a marked police car and engaged in unwanted physical advances.
The victim reported the assault in 2016 to Victoria police, and the case was transferred to New South Wales police in November 2021. Blackbourne was arrested and charged in 2023. His defense team, led by Barrister Matthew Johnston SC, has vehemently denied all allegations, emphasizing discrepancies in the evidence due to the extended period since the alleged incident.
During the ongoing trial, Johnston highlighted concerns regarding the credibility of the evidence, suggesting that the complainant’s recollections may have been influenced by a later conversation with a police officer in 2020. Judge Huw Baker SC reiterated that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution to substantiate the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
The trial is ongoing as the legal proceedings continue to unfold.