A former police officer accused of raping a woman told her 'If I'm going down, I'm going down for something good' after he threatened her with a knife during a separate attack.

Jason Corley, 42, who had been based at Sizewell in Suffolk working for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), has been charged with four offences, including rape and two of causing actual bodily harm (ABH).

Corley, of Oaklands, Framingham Earl, near Poringland, has gone on trial at Norwich Crown Court accused of the offences which are said to have happened to a woman between August 2020 and February 2021.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Andrew Thompson, opening the prosecution case on Tuesday (June 27), said Corley assaulted and raped the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, on September 12, 2020.

He said Corley grabbed the woman by the throat despite her "trying to get him off" and threw her onto a bed before putting his knee on her neck.

Following the assault, which resulted in the complainant suffering bruising to her arms, Mr Thompson said Corley forced himself on her despite her telling him "I don't want to".

The jury of seven men and five women were told she had been "squirming" but he had sex with her.

In another alleged assault, on September 26, 2020, Corley had got "very angry" and "grabbed her throat" and "strangled" her.

At one point during the incident, in which she suffered bruising to her ear, he grabbed a knife and said "If I'm going down, I'm going down for something good".

Corley, who is represented by Michael Clare, has denied all offences.

The trial continues.