A former sex crimes detective accused of raping a 19-year-old woman in a police station has claimed the sexual conduct was consensual, maintaining he accepted a proposition of sex for money out of excitement for her age and attractiveness.
Glen Coleman, 57, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, six counts of non-consensual sexual touching and one count of abusing his position of public office. He does not deny the sexual acts but maintains they were consensual.
Coleman was a detective with the police force’s sex crimes squad when he allegedly raped a then-19-year-old in early 2022.Credit: Nick Moir
Crown prosecutor Kate Nightingale, however, told the Penrith District Court the woman could not have consented due to the abuse of trust and power.
She argued the vulnerable young woman, who lived in shared housing for teenagers at risk of homelessness at the time of the alleged attack, was restrained in the police station during the alleged rape, as well as in Coleman’s police car when he allegedly groped her genitals.
In closing arguments to the 12-day trial before Judge Robert Montgomery, Nightingale read out an entire Snapchat message sent by Coleman on May 12, just before his arrest, reading:
“Here is the final offer. $700 for two hours. 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Monday 22nd May at Vineyard Motel. Time and date are not negotiable. Much more than I was prepared to pay, but you have me intrigued. You will wear a dress and lacy g-string. Bring another unless you want to go home without undies, as I will be keeping it”.
The message asked her to send a photo of her genitals “in good faith”.
“I will be in touch in three to four weeks about other matters. This is the last offer and will expire at midnight tonight. So one way or the other, this will be the end. Cheers, Glen”.
Coleman was a sex crimes detective when he met the then-19-year-old alleged victim in February 2022 when she made a complaint over a cousin threatening to post photos of her naked online.
Coleman said he could not investigate the act because it was morally, not criminally, wrong, the court heard during his trial.
But, when the woman then asked about a sexual assault by her ex-boyfriend, he said he could help with that complaint.
Coleman leaves court earlier in the trial with his partner.Credit: Rhett Wyman
The court heard that in the following weeks, Coleman repeatedly offered the woman money for sex after learning she worked in a strip club.
Nightingale said Coleman “acted immorally by using his position of power and authority to pursue his own sexual gratification from a vulnerable young woman who sought the assistance of the police to stop the person who was pressuring her in relation to sexual conduct”.
“I submit to you that the conduct of the accused in the course of his public duties was so far below the acceptable standards, a grave breach of his duty and such serious misconduct that it amounts to an abuse of the public’s trust in the police force.”
The court earlier heard evidence from the complainant that on May 5, she went to the police station to sign a statement about her ex-boyfriend. Inside an interview room, Coleman allegedly put $70 on the table and said: “It’s yours; give me a head job.”
Coleman argues the sexual acts were consensual.Credit: James Brickwood
When she refused, Coleman allegedly started begging, so she put her timer on for one minute and performed the act, so she could leave. Coleman then allegedly begged for sex, and she put the timer on for another minute.
She said she took the $70 before leaving because she “wanted to take back some control”.
Nightingale argued that even if the jury agreed with the defence’s case that the 19-year-old instigated the sexual acts, she could not have freely and voluntarily consented.
She noted the woman gave evidence she said repeatedly in the police car that she wanted to leave before the alleged groping, and that she felt she couldn’t leave without giving Coleman the sexual acts he wanted in the police station on May 5 because she was afraid he would not continue to investigate her sexual assault complaint.
Coleman denies any element of restraint during any meeting, that he touched the woman in the police cars or that he said he would not investigate her complaints if they did not have sex.
In his closing remarks, defence barrister Joel Brook pointed the jury to evidence the woman had agreed to certain sexual acts for money via messages before May 5.
Regarding the alleged rape, Brook said Coleman’s evidence was that the woman moved her chair, pulled up her dress and “showed me her vagina,” before asking how much money Coleman had.
Brook said Coleman perceived the movement and question as a proposition.
He said Coleman’s evidence was that he was “embarrassed and ashamed” about accepting the proposition, pointing to his evidence in which he said:
“I’m an old bloke; she’s a young attractive woman offering sex for money. I was excited”.
Brook suggested the complainant’s evidence was “implausible, inconsistent and unreliable”.
“You’re not here to decide whether you like Mr Coleman… this is not a court of morals,” he said.
Coleman was arrested on May 20, 2022, after the alleged victim showed his May 12 Snapchat message to her friend’s parents, who were police officers. They urged her to report it to police.
Coleman was stood down from the force in September 2022.
Judge Robert Montgomery will continue his closing directions on Wednesday, before the jury will retire to deliberate.