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Police officer who 'sexually assaulted eight boys was investigated twice but not prosecuted'

A West Midlands police officer who allegedly sexually assaulted eight boys was investigated by police twice but not prosecuted, a court heard.

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Allan Richards would 'twist boys' arms' around their heads so he could see whether they had underarm hair, a jury was told.

Richards, who is accused of abusing his positions by sexually touching Scouts at camps and at swimming baths, also enjoyed slapping boys, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

His trial was told that on a camp he would check the boys to see if they had hair under their arms.

Miss Miranda Moore QC, for the prosecution, said: "If you refused he would force them by twisting their arm and pulling it over their head."

"It was so hard the boy went back to the camp and was sore.

"That victim told police Richards liked playing 'red hand', which was hitting people really hard to leave a mark."

Other victims told police that Richards, now 54, would force himself on them in swimming pools and sexually touch them, the court heard.

The retired West Midlands Police constable denies 12 counts of indecent assault. The alleged crimes were against eight boys, aged between 11 and 15, over a 20 year period.

He has already been convicted of similar offences earlier this year, the jury was told.

Miss Moore also said police had investigated him in 2000 and 2004 but there was no prosecution.

He was kicked out of the Scouts in 2004 following an alleged incident of indecent assault against one of the boys.

One alleged victim told police: "He was more interested in boys who were from broken homes and boys who didn't have father figures."

It also also alleged Richards, of Thaxted Road, Tile Cross, Birmingham, used the force computer to check up on some of his alleged victims decades later.

The trial continues.

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