Police officer's sex assault trial sees jury discharged

The jury in the trial of a female police officer accused of sexually assaulting another woman has been discharged for legal reasons.

Fiona Anderson, 33, from Exeter, denies two counts of sexual assault alleged to have happened in 2018 while she was visiting Cardiff.

Anderson, a police officer with Devon and Cornwall Police, has been suspended from duty since her arrest in March 2023.

Judge William Hart discharged the jury at Bristol Crown Court two days after the trial had begun.

The court previously heard that two incidents allegedly took place in Cardiff while Anderson was off duty.

The judge told the court he had "no choice in these circumstances" but to "refix the trial with a different jury".

"It is very unfortunate for the complainant and very unfortunate for the defendant, who has been suspended as a police officer since 2023," he said.

He said a new trial date would be fixed in due course.