Image caption Mr Mitchell denies all the charges

A Pc sexually assaulted a woman at a police station after she was arrested for shoplifting, a court has heard.

Northumbria police officer Stephen Mitchell, 42, of Glasgow, denies five counts of rape, six of indecent assault and 15 of misconduct in public office.

The woman, one of 16 complainants, told Newcastle Crown Court that Mitchell warned her not to tell anyone, adding "no-one's going to believe a thief".

She contacted police after he began calling at her home, asking for her.

The alleged incident took place in a report reading room at Pilgrim Street Police Station in July 2006.

The mother-of-four, now aged 56, said she told Mr Mitchell she was unwell and was on cancer medication, but that "he did not seem bothered".

She said that afterwards she was in "total shock".

Asked why she did not report the incident immediately she said: "I thought no-one would believe me.

"I was a shoplifter and he was a police officer.

"I still would never have been here to this day if he had not kept coming back to the house."

She denied an accusation by the defence QC that she was "thoroughly dishonest" and motivated by the potential for a compensation payment.

The trial continues.