33, appears in court to deny raping woman in sea off Brighton beach during stag do

• Sergeant Laurence Knight, 33, has been charged with rape and sexual assault
• He is alleged to have raped a woman after a stag night in Brighton in July 2021
• The officer has been suspended from the Met and his trial is set for next June

A Met Police officer has denied raping a woman in the sea off Brighton beach after a stag night. 

Sergeant Laurence Knight, 33, is said to have carried out the attack on July 17 last year while off duty.

The officer met the woman during the night out in the early hours of the morning, a court heard. 

Prosecutors say the pair walked to the beach together, undressed to their underwear and ended up in the sea, where sexual activity is alleged to have taken place.

He was arrested on July 28 2021 and suspended from Stoke Newington Police Station, north London after the allegation was made.

Knight, attached to the Met’s Detention Unit, appeared at Southwark Crown Court charged with rape and sexual assault. He denies both charges.

Sergeant Laurence Knight, 33, (pictured at court on July 5) is said to have met the woman in the early hours of July 17 last year while on a stag do in the city centre. He is then accused of raping her in the sea off Brighton beach 

Sgt Knight's trial is set for at Southwark Crown Court on 19 June 2023. He denies the charges 

Judge Phillip Bartle QC bailed the officer ahead of his trial set for June 19 next year. The trial is estimated to last a week.

Following Sgt Knight’s arrest, the Met made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The IOPC determined the misconduct investigation should be led by the Met.

Sussex Police released a statement after Knight was charged with rape last summer which said: ‘Sussex Police has arrested a man after a woman reported being raped on Brighton beach on Saturday, July 17 2021.

‘Laurence Knight, 33, who is a Met Police officer, was arrested on suspicion of rape on July 28 and released on bail.’

Sgt Knight, of Waltham Forest, east London, is granted bail on condition he does not contact the complainant and will next appear at Southwark Crown Court on 19 June 2023.  

Chief Superintendent Pete Gardner, in charge of Met Detention, said after the allegation was made: 'We know people will rightly be concerned to hear about this very serious charge against a serving police officer.

'We absolutely share that concern and I am thankful to Sussex Police for their thorough investigation and the continued specialist support they are providing to the victim.

'The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards are fully aware and misconduct matters will be dealt with once the criminal proceedings have concluded. The officer is suspended from duty.'