A sexual relationship between a police officer from Stevenage and a crime victim was not ‘harmless fun’, the prosecution has claimed.

The alleged actions of Herts PC Simon Salway – who is appearing at Luton Crown Court charged with exploiting his professional contacts with six crime victims and other crime witnesses between 2006 and 2014 – can only be seen as misconduct in office, according to prosector Gregory Perrins.

Mr Perrins, who made his summary on Friday, said: “The words Mr Salway has used throughout this trial to describe his actions with the women giving evidence is ‘harmless fun’.

“It is not harmless fun for a police officer to have sex with a woman after he has taken a witness statement.

“It is not harmless fun to stop for kissing and sexual touching with a woman under your care in a lay-by while on duty.

“And it is not harmless fun to send texts to someone in a vulnerable position.

“Police officers are in a unique position and have a strong position of trust. They must act with honesty and integrity and not undermine the public’s confidence.

“Mr Salway cannot get away from the fact that he had sex with one of the women, because he has a child with her.

“He also cannot escape from the text messages, which are evidence of a sexual relationship with several women while he was on duty.”