Cop accused of raping a 17-year-old girl at a police station in a rural NSW town

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:05, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 01:22, 21 July 2026 A former constable has been accused of raping a teenage girl at a New South Wales police station after she visited the building to borrow a hat for a costume.  David Robert Blackbourne, 56, has been charged with serious offences relating to an alleged incident in a rural town near the NSW-Victoria border in 1998. During the prosecution's opening address to the jury at Downing Centre District Court on Monday, it was alleged that Blackbourne and the 17-year-old girl had met on several occasions, according to news.com.au. The prosecution alleged the girl, who remains anonymous for legal reasons, visited the police station to collect an officer's hat for a costume in October 1998.  'You're not leaving yet,' Blackbourne allegedly told her. He then allegedly kissed her, put his tongue in her mouth without her consent and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent. The jury was told about two previous interactions between Blackbourne, who was 28 years old at the time, and the teenager. Earlier in 1998, Blackbourne and another officer allegedly offered the girl and her female friend a lift home but told them they first needed to stop at the police station.  While there, the court heard the two friends were allegedly offered an alcoholic drink that had been 'confiscated' and were given a tour of the station. David Robert Blackbourne, 56, has been charged with offences relating to an alleged rape in a rural town near the NSW-Victoria border in 1998 (Stock image)  Defence barrister Matthew Johnston SC told the jury on Monday that all allegations were strongly disputed and that Blackbourne denied the alleged events (File image)  On a separate occasion, Blackbourne allegedly collected the girl from a local pub, the jury heard.  After driving her in a marked police car, he allegedly placed handcuffs on her wrists and put his tongue in her mouth without her consent, the court was told.  The court heard the alleged victim reported the matter to Victoria Police in 2016 and NSW Police joined the investigation five years later.  Blackbourne was arrested in 2023 and was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He was also charged with two counts of assault with an act of indecency and one count of misconduct in public office.  Defence barrister Matthew Johnston SC told the jury on Monday that all allegations were strongly disputed and Blackbourne denied the prosecution's claims.  Mr Johnston said it was not disputed that his client was a police officer, but he denied any sexual intercourse or misconduct.  The jury was told by Mr Johnston to look 'very carefully' at whether the alleged victim had actual memories of the events or whether she had been influenced during a phone call with a police officer in 2020.  Judge Huw Baker SC told the jury that the onus of proof remains with the Crown to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.