Police officer recounts 'living nightmare' of sex assault charges

A police officer and former winner of Mr Gay UK has spoken of his "living nightmare" after several charges against him were dropped. PC Mark Carter, 28, from Bradford, was cleared in June of raping a man and sexually assaulting two others while on a drunken Christmas night out with colleagues. He was due to face trial later this year on separate charges of possessing the anabolic steroid stanozolol, but the Crown Prosecution Service said on Monday that the case had been discontinued.

Peter Mann, head of West Yorkshire's CPS complex casework unit, said: "Having carefully considered expert evidence, we are satisfied that Mr Carter's use of the drugs was for a medicinal purpose within the terms of the Medicines Act 1968 and as such have taken steps to bring the case to an end today."

Carter, who was crowned Mr Gay UK in 2006 at the Flamingo Club in Blackpool, said : "After nearly two years of wait, I have now been found not guilty of all charges held against me."

Speaking to ITV Calendar News, he added: "I would like to thank all those who have stood by me: my legal team, West Yorkshire Police Federation, my family and friends and my work colleagues. These people have supported me in what can only be described as a living nightmare."

Carter, who won the Mr Gay UK title and £5,000 worth of prizes against 25 other contestants, works for West Yorkshire police in Huddersfield and is currently suspended. He went on trial at Leeds crown court earlier this year charged with sexually assaulting three men and raping a fourth. He was cleared of two rape charges and two sexual assault charges. The jury failed to reach a verdict on another sexual assault charge, which was not proceeded with.

Giving evidence at his trial he admitted he had "stupidly" drunk too much on the night, but denied carrying out the assaults.

A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: "PC Mark Carter remains suspended at this time. A decision regarding disciplinary action remains under consideration.