A SERVING police officer has been sent for trial after he denied raping a woman in Stourbridge.

Neighbourhood officer PC Benjamin Clay, 39, appeared before a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to raping the woman between June 1 and June 30, 2014.

Judge Kristina Montgomery QC further remanded him on bail for his trial which will begin on a date to be fixed.

The judge was told the trial of Clay, a Wolverhampton-based officer, would be held at Nottingham Crown Court and was expected to last more than a week.

Clay, who wore a dark suit, white shirt and tie, spoke only to confirm his name during the five minute hearing.

The address of the officer cannot be published because of a court order imposed at an earlier hearing.