Senior cop on trial for allegedly indecently assaulting junior colleague

A Melbourne cop allegedly drove a junior colleague to a beach after a farewell party, where he is accused of groping her and forcing her to perform a sex act on him, a court has heard.

Detective Senior Constable Richard Brown is facing serious charges over an alleged incident involving a female colleague in Frankston almost a decade ago. Picture: Supplied

A Victoria Police officer drove a junior colleague to a car park after a work function and forced her to perform a sex act, a jury has been told.

Richard Brown faced the first day of his County Court trial on Tuesday over allegations he indecently assaulted a female colleague after a farewell party in Frankston in 2005.

In his opening address, prosecutor Matthew Fisher said Mr Brown, then aged 33 and an acting sergeant, offered the probationary constable a lift to her car before driving her to a foreshore car park where he groped her, touched her groin and told her to perform oral sex.

Richard Brown outside the County Court on Tuesday. Picture: Miles Proust

“By that stage she was scared and felt disgusted by what had happened,” he said.

The woman allegedly refused before Mr Brown pulled down his pants and forced her to masturbate him.

Mr Brown has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault, with his lawyer saying the jury should consider if the woman was telling the truth and if the interaction was consensual.

Mr Fisher said the woman was subjected to “degrading” rumours and bullying which worsened over time after she began working there.

“She felt uncomfortable and she was stressed about working there,” he said.

Mr Brown had worked with the woman on a few occasions but was not her manager or involved in the workplace bullying, the prosecutor said.

At a farewell party for two colleagues at the now-defunct Pint & Pickle Tavern on June 7, 2005, Mr Brown allegedly told the woman he needed to tell her something.

He allegedly told her as a manager he could help with her workplace issues before insisting he drive her to her car a short distance away.

Mr Fisher said the woman was uncomfortable but did not want to upset Mr Brown, particularly as he was a senior colleague.

When she asked where they were going, he allegedly told her they were going to talk.

“We won’t be long,” he allegedly said.

Richard Brown faced the first day of his County Court trial on Tuesday over allegations he indecently assaulted a female colleague after a farewell party in Frankston in 2005.

He allegedly drove to a beach car park where he locked the doors and indecently assaulted her before dropping her off and telling her not to tell anyone what happened.

The woman disclosed the alleged assault to family, friends, colleagues and a police psychologist before it was escalated to Victoria Police’s ethical standards command.

But she later withdrew the complaint due embarrassment and fears for her career.

“This has all been hard enough, he also has a family and I don’t want to embarrass them,” she said in a statement of no complaint.

“I’m also embarrassed about the incident and don’t want this to be public knowledge.”

After disclosing the alleged assault, the woman was arrested and interviewed over stalking allegations and unlawful use of a police database, the court was told.

She was later cleared and given guidance on workplace practice and transferred stations.

In 2019, having left the force and now a mother, Mr Fisher said the woman renewed her complaint and provided further statements to investigators.

Lawyer David Cronin, for Mr Brown, said the woman’s credibility and reliability would be issues in the trial.

He also asked the jury to consider whether the woman asked to move stations, where she went and if there were issues with her performance prior to the allegations.

The woman’s recorded evidence was played to the jury in closed court on Tuesday afternoon.

The trial, before Judge Frances Hogan, continues.