PCSO sex assault trial: 'Touching was consensual'

A PCSO charged with three counts of sexual assault has claimed touching between him and a colleague was consensual.

Paul Simpkins, 43, of Martin Wood Bank, Almondbury, in Huddersfield, is on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting two colleagues in 2022.

The first two charges relate to the same colleague, while the third charge relates to another co-worker.

Mr Simpkins, who denies the charges, gave evidence at Bradford Crown Court on 31 January.

The first incident alleges Mr Simpkins touched a colleague's crotch in a taxi, following a work night out on 3 February 2022.

Giving evidence, Mr Simpkins said: "He put his hand under my shirt and started tickling my back - skin on skin."

He is also accused of attempting to kiss his colleague, but told the court: "I said the word 'kiss', but at no point...did I attempt to kiss his neck at all."

"I realised what I said was wrong and [I] shouldn't have said it...because I have a partner at home," he said.

Mr Simpkins said he touched his colleague after he touched him first, alleging "it was consensual" because "he didn't push me away".

Responding to accusatons that he touched his colleagues crotch, the defendant said: "My hand was there [on his colleague's thigh], and I felt his erection so I moved it away."

The prosecution alleged that Mr Simpkins later sent the same colleague text messages saying he had made him "horny" and asking to meet up after work.

Asked if he sent the text messages, Mr Simpkins said: "To the best of my knowledge, no."

The second charge relates to an incident in Mavericks bar in Huddersfield on 8 July 2022, where Mr Simpkins is alleged to have touched the same colleague's thigh under the table where they were drinking with colleagues.

"Absolutely not," Mr Simpkins said, in response to the allegation.

"Why would he be sat next to me if I had sexually assaulted him anyway?

"I find that very strange."

The third charge relates to an allegation that Mr Simpkins got into bed with another colleague after the same night out in July.

Mr Simpkins had been taken to a colleague's hotel room, who felt he was too drunk to travel home, the court heard.

He is accused of getting into bed with the colleague and touching his stomach and nipple before the colleague moved away, and onto the sofabed which he had originally set up for Mr Simpkins.

Mr Simpkins denies the incident took place.

The trial continues.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.