A former top motorway cop indecently assaulted an eight-year-old girl and made her look at porn magazines, a court heard.
Retired inspector Simon Westwood, 55, tried to touch the youngster and showed her explicit images, a jury were told.
The incident is said to have occurred in the late 90s but Westwood – who worked for Central Motorway Police for 34 years- was only charged when the victim, now in her 20s, went to police last year.
Prosecutor Jeremy Janes told the jury that the alleged victim claimed she was indecently assaulted in 1997 or 1998.
In an interview with police she said that Westwood had caught her looking at a pornographic magazine before attempting to touch her inappropriately.
The girl said Westwood had touched her private area for a few seconds before she wriggled free.
She claimed that on another occasion he had showed her explicit magazines and made comments on the pictures.
She said: “He would say ‘that’s a very good shot, look at that. You can really see everything there.”
The court heard that Westwood joined the force in 1976 and eventually became an inspector with Central Motorway Police Group (CPMG).
He was forced to retire in March 2010 under controversial A19 regulations but rejoined the force as a special constable shortly afterwards.
Addressing the jury, Philippa McAtasney QC, defending, said Westwood “emphatically denied” the charges against him.
In her closing speech she referenced his “exemplary” policing career.
She said: “He has served us, the public, to the rank of inspector for 34 years and four months, and after his retirement, such is his commitment, you may think, to his service that he immediately signed on as a special constable and worked voluntarily, unpaid work on behalf of us, the public.”
She went on to say that a number of character witnesses had vouched for the ex-cop during the course of the trial.
She added: “None of those witnesses observed any inappropriate behaviour or anything that gave them cause for concern about him having any sexual deviant traits.”
Westwood, from Shirley, West Mids., pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault of a girl under 14 under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.
A jury today retired to consider its verdict after a four-day trial at Warwick Crown Court.
