A SENIOR police officer has denied being a "love rival" to a retired chief superintendent accused of rape, stalking and other offences.
Humberside Police chief inspector Paul Cunningham appeared as a prosecution witness in the trial of former chief superintendent Colin Andrews, and was questioned about his intentions towards the woman Mr Andrews is accused of stalking.
She cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Chief Insp Cunningham told Manchester Crown Court she had visited him at his home for coffee and they met on other occasions, and described their relationship as "platonic" and "friendly".
Tania Griffiths QC, defending, asked him: "Do you believe you have given the jury an accurate picture of your relationship with (the alleged victim)?"
"Absolutely," the officer replied.
"So this woman just happened to pop in for a coffee with you in January 2013?" Miss Griffiths asked.
"That's correct, yes," said Chief Insp Cunningham.
"You were a love rival to Colin Andrews for (the alleged victim), weren't you?" Miss Griffiths said.
"Not in my eyes, no," the officer replied.
The barrister suggested Chief Insp Cunningham had told the woman he was "fond" of her.
He said: "That's not the case, I liked her as a friend."
Miss Griffiths said: "You had a sexual interest in (the alleged victim), didn't you?"
"No," he replied.
Miss Griffiths said: "In July, last year, you had a sexual interest in another woman, didn't you?"
"I would think so, yes," the chief inspector said.
"A married woman with children?" asked Miss Griffiths.
"Yes," the officer said.
Miss Griffiths said: "With whom you were pursuing an affair against the wishes of her husband?"
Hull-based Chief Insp Cunningham said: "I considered I was in a relationship with a woman who was in an emotionally controlling relationship with her husband."
The officer told the court that the alleged stalking victim had told him Mr Andrews was trying to exert pressure on her.
"Did you provide any advice?" asked Owen Edwards, prosecuting.
He said: "I told her this was serious. It was what I thought was harassment, stalking and potentially blackmail, and I urged her to get some help, to report it."
Another officer, Sergeant Martin Flynn, told the jury he was called at home while he was in bed after working a night shift and told he would be giving evidence at the trial that day.
He said the caller, who he thought was a senior officer, told him to meet him at a motorway service station, where he handed him an envelope.
Sgt Flynn was the custody officer at Priory Road Police Station on August 20 last year, where Mr Andrews was locked up after being arrested, initially on suspicion of an assault.
Sgt Flynn booked Mr Andrews in and assigned him a cell in the presence of Detective Sergeant Mick Stevenson, who had arrested Mr Andrews at 8.55pm.
Sgt Flynn was referred to the custody records he had brought to court, which showed Mr Andrews arriving at the station at 9.19pm.
The court heard the time of arrest was listed on one sheet as "00.55 hours", which Miss Griffiths said "is a nonsense, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," the sergeant replied.
Miss Griffiths said: "How has that happened, how has 00.55 been entered?"
"The only way that could be entered is by me in error," the officer said.
The barrister asked where he had got the documents from.
Sgt Flynn said: "I was telephoned this morning while in bed. I met a senior officer at a motorway service station and he handed them to me."
"Who is he?" asked Miss Griffiths.
Sgt Flynn said: "Alistair McFarlane. I don't know his rank, but he's a senior officer at the force."
Mr Andrews, 58, denies rape, stalking, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, witness intimidation, harassment and two counts of common assault.
The trial continues.
