PC in court accused of sexual assault, attempted rape and false imprisonment

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A serving police officer who is accused of serious offences against three women allegedly used restraint techniques he learned as part of his job against one complainant and held a knife against the cheek of another, a court has heard.

PC Matthew Tregale, 33, a Devon and Cornwall officer, was remanded in custody accused of 10 offences including sexual assault, attempted rape, false imprisonment and coercive behaviour.

Tregale’s defence team indicated he would plead not guilty to the alleged offences, said to have taken place between 2005 and 2021.

Devon and Cornwall police said the alleged offences occurred while he was off duty and he had been subsequently suspended from the force.

But the deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram was told that Tregale, who appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Call the Cops, continued to work as a response officer until nine months ago and was only suspended after he was charged.

Tregale was accused of eight offences from 2005-10 against one woman, including sexual assault, attempted rape and false imprisonment.

He also faces two charges relating to her under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. According to the charge he pinned her against the wall by her throat on one occasion, held a knife handle to her cheek on another and used restraint techniques against her. He also allegedly detained her against her will.

In addition, he is accused of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour against a second woman between 2015-20. The charge alleged he used “police restraint techniques”, threw objects at her and threatened to push her down some stairs.

Tregale allegedly engaged in controlling or coercive behaviour against a third woman. This included allegedly threatening to reveal private information about her and criminal damage to some of her possessions.

Ikram, who heard the case from Westminster magistrates court in London via video link, ordered the officer to next appear at Exeter crown court on 25 August.