Senior police officer to go on trial over sexual assault allegation

A senior police officer accused of sexual assault will stand trial. <p>Temporary Superintendent Robert James Saunders, known as Jim, entered a not-guilty plea at Taunton Crown Court.</p><p>The charge alleges that on 10 June 2022 in Exeter he "intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when she did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that she was consenting".</p><p>The 48-year-old has been suspended by Devon and Cornwall Police.</p><p><strong>More from Sky News:</strong><br /><strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/manipulated-in-our-darkest-hour-family-of-murdered-student-henry-nowak-say-police-failed-them-13606996" target="_self">Henry Nowak's family say police failed them</a><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/video/everything-we-know-after-five-teenagers-stabbed-at-halloween-party-13606780" target="_self">What we know after five teens stabbed at Halloween party</a></strong></p><p>A six-day trial is scheduled to begin on 21 February 2028, with a pre-trial review on 24 January that year.</p><p>Mr Saunders, of Bodmin, Cornwall, was granted unconditional bail.</p><widget id="3"></widget>