Victorian police officer Taylor Johnson charged with Surry Hills ‘rape’

A Victorian policeman has fronted court in Sydney for the first time over allegations he raped a woman inside a Surry Hills hotel while away on a weekend in the Harbour City.

Victorian policeman Taylor Johnson leaves Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday having been charged with sexual intercourse without consent after a 38-year-old woman alleged she was raped by him. Picture: Shannon Tonkin

A Victorian police officer charged with raping a woman inside a Sydney hotel has been allowed to return to his home state on bail.

Taylor Johnson appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday charged with sexual intercourse without consent, 48 hours after Victorian Police executed a search warrant on behalf of their NSW counterparts at Johnson’s home in northeast Melbourne.

He was arrested at the time and fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where a magistrate approved his extradition to NSW.

The court heard NSW police formed Strike Force Brierley last month to investigate the assault allegations after receiving a referral from Victorian police’s sexual offences unit.

It is alleged Johnson, a serving officer who was off duty at the time, raped the 38-year-old woman inside a hotel room in Surry Hills while he was in the Harbour City for a weekend visit.

Taylor Johnson refused to respond to media questions outside court on Thursday. Picture: Shannon Tonkin

Magistrate Greg Grogin imposed bail conditions on Johnson at the request of prosecutors, who said they were not opposed to the 32-year-old living in his home state while the case was before the court.

As part of his bail, Johnson must report to his closest police station once a week, surrender his passport and not leave the state of Victoria unless to attend court in NSW.

He is also banned from contacting the alleged victim or a witness in the matter and cannot drink alcohol or take drugs while at liberty.

The court also prohibited Johnson from attending any international points of departure from Australia, with the court told his mother had agreed to drive him from Victoria to Sydney for each of his court appearances.

It is understood Johnson has been suspended from his job, with pay.

The case will return to court on January 29.

Johnson refused to answer questions from the media as he left the court.