Police Officer Acquitted in Rape Case

David Stansbury, a serving police officer, was found not guilty of raping a woman in Plymouth, following a three-week trial.

David Stansbury, 43, was acquitted by a unanimous jury at Bristol Crown Court after being accused of raping a woman at her home in Plymouth, Devon, in 2009.
The allegations surfaced in 2020 when the accuser, fearing repercussions due to her substance use, reported the incident after being arrested at a disturbance.
Stansbury, who served with Devon and Cornwall Police at the time of the alleged incidents and now with Hertfordshire Police, denied all charges, stating he did not remember the woman or the incident.
The trial, described by the judge as 'demanding and tense for everybody concerned', saw Stansbury emotional as he was discharged and declared free to leave.
Assistant Chief Constable Jim Pearce of Devon and Cornwall Police acknowledged the difficulty of the case for all involved, emphasizing the impact on both the accused and the accuser.