A court has heard that a serving Kent police officer, Matthew Peall from Canterbury, allegedly intended to have sex with a witness during an ongoing burglary investigation with “no strings” attached.
Based in Canterbury, Matthew Peall, 47, has entered not guilty to the charge after being on trial at Southwark Crown Court for misbehaviour in a court or public office.
Investigating a burglary of an elderly client between October and December 2019, he allegedly sent romantic text messages, emails, and phone calls to a care facility manager.
Tuesday’s evidence presentation to the court revealed the complainant denied ever having an emotional or sexual relationship with the officer and told the jury her interactions with him were “banter.”
She also stated she suspected Matthew Peall might have been “egged on” in a “wind-up” by another Kent Police officer, Gary Stamp, whom she knew through a work colleague and did not get along with.
Over an almost two-month period, the jury was given text messages, emails, and call logs between Matthew Peall, who was using his work phone, and the complainant, using her phone.
Matthew Peall visited the complainant’s house twice on October 22 and 28, 2019, to gather two witness statements on the suspected burglary that occurred earlier that month.
These were the only two times they had personally met, but they had been in touch since October 10 and remained until March 3, 2020.
The complainant verified that Matthew Peall did not try to contact her on social media or set up a meeting elsewhere.
The complainant responded with a “winking face” emoji when the officer, in a text message sent on the date of the second visit, asked, “Was that a blink or a wink?”
When prosecutor Zarah Dickinson asked the complainant what she understood from the message, she said: “I thought he meant I winked at him as he was leaving (the house).”
The complainant claimed the second statement’s atmosphere had been “more relaxed,” but when Ms Dickinson questioned whether she had flirted, she said: “No.”
She told the jury this was something she did routinely outside her contacts with the defendant and answered many of Matthew Peall’s texts using the “winking face” emoji.
Matthew Peall remarked in books delivered on November 3: “I am never sure what your winks mean,” to which the complainant responded: “I am sure you will figure them out.”
Dealing with her reaction, the complainant informed the jury: “When I feel uncomfortable in a situation, I try to joke my way out of it.”
Defended by barrister Ryan Downing, who said she “reciprocated Matthew Peall’s flirtatious messages most of the times,” the complainant responded: “I disagree.”
Mr. Dowding asked her if it was “clear” what was covered in the November 3 texts, and she responded: “from his perspective. He is unaware of my perspective.
In a text sent to the complainant on November 20, Matthew Peall said, “Wonder if you are as on edge as me. She answered with a “winking face” emoji, “Do you have a high sex drive?”
Ms Dickinson inquired about her response, and the complainant informed the court she had someone else in the office with her upon message receipt.
“He (Matthew Peall) just wanted to have sex and nothing else, no strings (attached,” she said.
Later in November, the complainant responded to a few of Matthew Peall’s messages; she said to the court she was “focussing on my clients”.
Ms Dickinson asked why Matthew Peall was not explicitly rejected. The complainant responded she “tried to hold back on certain things I am saying” following unpleasant events in former relationships.
When Mr Dowding asked whether the “winking face” emoji was a “neutral response,” she said: “That was my way of trying to get out of replying.
“I was not saying “yes” or “no.”
Mr Dowding told her that she “disengaged” with Matthew Peall, having learnt that he had a partner and children, and the complainant said, “Absolutely not.”
On August 26, 2020, the defendant was questioned by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. He said he should have reported improper flirtation on text exchanges in his prepared statement. He rejected, nevertheless, that he was misbehaving in a public job.
The hearing is still in progress.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.