A sergeant with West Midlands Police and his civilian worker wife appeared in court today charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault.

Nicholas Clarke, who is accused of rape, and his wife Joanne, who faces an allegation of sexual assault, appeared before magistrates in Redditch for a brief hearing.

Clarke, who is thought to be based at West Midlands Police headquarters in Birmingham, is alleged to have raped a woman in the Bromsgrove area between June 26 and 29.

His wife is charged with indecently assaulting a woman between the same dates.

The couple, both aged 48 and of Beacon Hill, Rednal, north Worcestershire, were not required to indicate any pleas during the brief hearing.

Magistrates sent the case against Clarke to Worcester Crown Court, where he will appear on February 15 next year.

Joanne Clarke is also charged with supplying and possessing cannabis between June 26 and June 29.

She was ordered to reappear at Redditch Magistrates’ Court for a committal hearing on December 22.

Both were given conditional bail by the magistrates.