Ex-policeman from Darwen in court to face rape charge (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Ex-policeman from Darwen in court to face rape charge

11:30am Thursday 5th July 2012 in Darwen By Vanessa Cornall, Crime reporter

A FORMER police officer has appeared in court charged with rape.

Paul John Sandham, 43, of Hardwood Street, Darwen, appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday facing the allegation, which dates back to 2007.

The former police constable worked the Blackburn beat for more than two years.

He is yet to enter a plea to the single charge of raping a woman between January 1, 2007 and August 1, 2007.

The former Moorland High School pupil served with Lancashire Constabulary between 2001 and 2003.

After leaving the force, the father-of-one joined the Blackburn Board for Social Responsibility, based at Blackburn Cathedral, as family resettlement co-ordinator, where he stayed for two years.

He also worked at Victim Support, the charity that helps people targeted by crime in 2008.

More recently he was a company director of Cool Lancashire, a private company delivering vocational training to young people deemed ‘NEET’ - not in employment or training.

He was told by Judge Robert Altham that his case was being adjourned for a plea and case management hearing at Preston Crown Court on September 21.

He was given bail.

Judge Altham also reserved four days for a potential trial early next year.