A police officer has been charged with raping a woman nine years ago – and having sex with the same woman while on duty eleven years ago.

PC Nicholas Stone faced Exeter magistrates yesterday charged with the rape and three misconduct charges.

The 40-year-old officer was a serving officer with the Devon and Cornwall force when the alleged offences happened between 1999 and 2001.

Stone, of Pitminster near Taunton, Somerset, later transferred to the Avon and Somerset force and he is currently based at Wellington.

The married officer, who has children, is charged with raping a woman over 16 years of age at Tiverton, Devon, between June 1 and July 31 2001.

He is also charged with wilfully misconducting himself by engaging in sexual intercourse with the same woman during May 1999 in Tiverton while on duty.

He is further charged with wilful misconduct by shouting and assaulting the same female while not acting in the lawful execution of his duty in November 1999.

And finally he is accused of wilful misconduct by threatening to arrest a second female if she did not do what he told her in December 1999.

Stone was remanded on unconditional bail by the magistrates and will appear before a judge at Exeter Crown Court in two weeks time for a preliminary hearing.