An off-duty Metropolitan Police officer from Essex raped a stranger after showing her his warrant card and questioning her, a court has heard.

Special Constable Paul Hoile is alleged to have carried out the late-night attack by the side of a road after snatching the woman’s phone following “inappropriate” contact with her in July.

Warning: Some readers may find the content in this story distressing.

The 40-year-old, from Benfleet, claims consensual activity took place “without fuss” after he and a friend approached the woman in Shropshire in July.

Opening the Crown’s case against Hoile at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Caroline Goodwin KC said the officer was staying in the area and was drunk.

The prosecutor said of the alleged victim, who cannot be identified: “She was left confused, upset… emotionally distraught.

“But in those moments after, when she thought about what had occurred, she had sufficient about her that, in spite of the deeply personal nature of these assaults, she made an immediate complaint.”

At the time of the alleged offences, the court heard, Hoile was a serving Special Constable with the Met but was not on duty.

Prosecutors claim Hoile abused and was “hiding behind” his police powers in speaking with the woman as she prepared to drive away from him and his friend.

The Crown’s KC added: “In drink, he was acting as if he was in charge, like a police officer… questioning her about her (driving) licence.

“She asked for his warrant card and he produced it – he kept his thumb over where his name was.”

The court heard that the alleged victim then began Googling the powers of a Special Constable and information given to her by Hoile, and he then asked for her name, which she confirmed.

A jury of seven men and five women was told the woman then walked away after booking a taxi.

Ms Goodwin said of Hoile: “He followed her on the road. He was drunk and you will hear her say she thought he was capable of anything.”

Hoile is alleged to have said that the complainant would be in “more trouble” if she hit him, before she “did what he wanted” despite being sick.

Jurors were told that Hoile was interviewed after his arrest and told officers he had consumed numerous drinks, including around five double vodkas.

According to his account, Hoile had engaged the woman in “general chit chat about sex” before she performed oral sex on him.

Hoile, of The Chase, Benfleet, denies misconduct in public office, three counts of oral and anal rape, and a charge of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

The trial, which is expected to last around a week, continues.