'No-one will believe a drunk woman over a serving police officer'

A former detective sergeant who left a woman 'terrified' after a series of attacks told her 'no-one would believe a drunk over a serving police officer', a court heard.

Paul Whitehurst was given an 18-week prison sentence at Chester Crown Court on Monday but was told he would be released, having already served more than the maximum term the judge was able to impose while on remand.

The court heard that the Warwickshire Police officer, who retired from the force in May, had met the woman, from Cheshire, on dating site Tinder. The 53-year-old, from Nantwich, admitted four counts of assault by beating, relating to three separate occasions.

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The court was told the final attack happened when he and the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had an argument in December last year. Anna Price, prosecuting, said the woman had tried to leave the property they were in but the defendant dragged her away from the door, pulling at her clothes and attempting to drag her upstairs.

She said: “The defendant at that point took her phone away her and told her no-one would believe a drunk over a serving police officer.”

She slipped out of her jumper and T-shirt to get away from him but he grabbed her again and began to drag her by her arms, the court heard. Ms Price said the woman was pinned to the floor by Whitehurst, who grabbed her wrists and held them above her head as she screamed at him to let her go.

At some point during the incident he ripped her bra and her underwear, Ms Price said. The court heard that after the assault the woman ran barefoot from the house and a man from a neighbouring property phoned the