Met police officer charged with off-duty rape of woman on beach

Metropolitan Police Officer Laurence Knight, 33, was accused of recreationally raping a woman on Brighton beach last summer and is due to appear in court next month

A serving police officer was charged with raping a woman on the beach.

Laurence Knight is due to appear in court next month after being arrested and charged following the alleged incident last July.

The 33-year-old acting Met officer is accused of assaulting the unnamed woman on Brighton beach in East Sussex on July 17, 2021 before being taken into custody 11 days later.

He was off duty at that time.

Knight is scheduled to appear before judges in the south coast city on June 23.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Laurence Knight, 33, a Met Police officer, was arrested on 28 July on suspicion of rape and released on bail.

“Today he was summoned to appear in Brighton Magistrates Court on June 23 to face a rape charge.

“The officer was not on duty at the time the complaint was made.

“The victim will continue to be assisted by specialized officers throughout the court process.”