A Suffolk police officer accused of having sexually inappropriate conversations with an alleged rape victim will have to wait another year for his trial to take place.

The trial of 30-year-old Ryan Althorpe, of Ipswich, was due to begin at Ipswich Crown Court this week, but because judges at the court are tied up with ongoing trials his trial has been delayed until July 24 next year.

Althorpe has denied two offences of misconduct in a public office between November 16 and December 3, 2020.

The first charge alleges that Althorpe engaged in sexually inappropriate conversations with an alleged rape victim for the purpose of his sexual gratification, and the second charge alleges that he wilfully neglected to record a disclosure of rape.

Judge Martyn Levett adjourned the case until the week commencing June 24 next year for a pre-trial review and allowed Althorpe’s unconditional bail to continue.

The defendant was a temporary sergeant at the time of the alleged offences.