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Woman suing police over relationship with PC - court

BBC Paul Higgins, frowns and looks toward the floor. He is outside, wearing a coat and dark tie. There is a brick wall behind himBBC
Paul Higgins has denied five charges against him

South Wales Police is being sued by a woman who says a police officer misused his powers to start a relationship with her, a court heard.

Jessica O’Neill and PC Paul Higgins began seeing one another after he was called to a report of domestic violence at her home.

She told the Merthyr Crown Court she was "groomed, gaslit and manipulated".

Mr Higgins, of Hengoed, Caerphilly, denies five charges, including improper exercise of police powers and privileges by a constable, three counts of unauthorised access to police computer systems and perverting the course of justice.

Ian Wright, prosecuting, told jurors Mr Higgins "persuaded her to tell a cover story he had concocted" to his superiors and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

It is alleged Mr Higgins told Ms O’Neill he had made his sergeant aware the pair were in a relationship, but lied about how and when they had met.

Mr Wright said Ms O'Neill was pressured into saying they had met years earlier on a night out in Cardiff and had dated briefly.

The court heard Miss O’Neill first spoke to the IOPC on 25 August 2021, and she later gave a statement supporting Mr Higgins' version of events.

Rina Hill, defending, put it to her she signed a statement which stated clearly if she knowingly gave false information, she could face prosecution.

"Can I choose not to answer that, please?" said Miss O’Neill.

She was quizzed about retracting that first statement.

"This was all stuff Paul told me to say," she said.

Ms Hill put to her she had lied, but Ms O'Neill responded: "I was manipulated into doing so."

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court
The case is being heard at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court

She denied going to the IOPC because Mr Higgins ended their relationship and broke her heart.

Det Con Nia Palla accompanied Mr Higgins to Ms O’Neill’s initial report of domestic violence in 2020, and told the court Mr Higgins later told her that he recognised Ms O'Neill because he had "met her before on a night out".

DC Palla said Mr Higgins confirmed to her that he and Ms O’Neill were dating two years later, but she did not think it was wrong because Mr Higgins told her they knew one another before the domestic violence call-out and because the case had been closed.

The court heard she did not consider Ms O’Neill vulnerable.

Mr Higgins' then sergeant, Det Sgt Jane Locke, said she did not initially know Mr Higgins had been involved in Ms O’Neill's case.

She later informed South Wales Police’s professional standards department and in a statement she said she had concerns his conduct might be inappropriate.

Ms O’Neill answered "I believe so" when it was put to her she could benefit financially if her action against the police is successful, adding "but as well as compensation, an apology too".

The case continues.