Powerless to reject cop sex - Crown

By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
Louise Nicholas had sex with two policemen six to 12 times against her will, the Rotorua District Court has heard.

Evidence of the Rotorua woman's allegations of pack rape were outlined yesterday at the start of a depositions hearing.

Assistant Commissioner Clinton John Tukotahi Rickards, 44, Bradley Keith Shipton, 47, and Robert Francis Schollum, 53 are facing a total of 20 charges of rape, indecent assault and unlawful sexual connection.

Louise Nicholas alleges that in 1986, when she was 18, she was forced to have sex with Shipton and Rickards at her house in Corlett St.

She also alleges that she was taken to a Rutland St house and pack-raped by the three accused.

The trio, who were working as Rotorua police officers at the time, have strenuously denied the allegations.

There are extensive suppression orders around the case but yesterday Judge Chris McGuire relaxed earlier restrictions on reporting any details of Mrs Nicholas' allegations.

Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh told the court Mrs Nicholas met Schollum years earlier through family friends and he introduced her to Rickards and Shipton.

She did not consider Rickards or Shipton to be friends but the two became regular visitors to her house.

"The sole purpose of their visits to Mrs Nicholas' address was to have sexual intercourse with her.

"Although she told them she did not want to have sex, because Rickards and Shipton were police officers, combined with their physical presence, she felt powerless to reject their sexual advances."

The pair went to her house between six and 12 times and each had sex with her against her will, Mr Zarifeh said.

On another occasion, Mrs Nicholas had been walking home when Schollum had stopped alongside her and offered her a ride.

Instead of taking her home, he took her to a Rutland St house rented by Shipton, where Shipton, Rickards and a fourth unknown man were drinking.

The court heard Mrs Nicholas was led into a bedroom by Schollum, despite her protests.

The other defendants joined them and removed her clothing. Each of the men then had sex and oral sex with her.

Three witnesses were called by the Crown yesterday, including Mrs Nicholas' husband Ross. About 40 witnesses, including Mrs Nicholas, have provided written statements.

In recalling details about the early stage of their relationship, Mr Nicholas said Louise took several sick days when she lived at Corlett St.

One day Mr Nicholas was at the house when Louise and her flatmate were out. Rickards and Shipton arrived and appeared "surprised" when he opened the door, he said.

Another witness, Mrs Nicholas' mother-in-law, told the court she visited the house to collect Louise when she saw a police car parked in the driveway.

Phyllis Nicholas said Louise, who had been dating her son for a few months, had contacted her because she was ill.

"She was doubled up in pain. I wanted to take her straight off to emergency but she wouldn't let me."

Mrs Phyllis Nicholas said she did not ask Louise about the police visit as at the time their relationship was not close.

The hearing is expected to end Tuesday.