Cop sexually assaulted junior, court told

A semi-naked senior police officer got into bed with a sleeping junior colleague and sexually assaulted her after a work party, his trial has heard.

 The female officer says she woke up to find her pyjama pants were gone and her colleague, Timothy Snow, beside her with a "grin on his face" during a night away in February 2011, the District Court in Sydney heard on Monday.

Snow, a sergeant in the NSW police force at the time, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

He also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of indecent assault.

On the opening day of his trial, the court heard Snow's alleged victim, who can't be named for legal reasons, had a good working relationship with him and considered him her friend.

However, at a farewell dinner for colleagues, she alleged he twice placed his hand on her thigh under the table against her wishes, leaving her "upset and embarrassed", crown prosecutor Frank Veltro said.

Later that evening, the group went back to a western Sydney apartment that had been rented for the occasion.

While there, the alleged victim vomited and took a sleeping tablet before she was later seen lying on the couch with her feet on Snow's lap.

He then walked her to the bedroom she was sharing with a female colleague.

Mr Veltro said the colleague heard the couple kissing and Snow say "I love you", before the victim said "You can't" and Snow left the room.

But the colleague later woke to see Snow - wearing just his boxer shorts - slipping into bed beside the alleged victim, causing the colleague to leave the room.

The alleged victim woke up to find her pyjama pants gone and Snow rubbing her genitalia, before she got out of bed and left the room, Mr Veltro said.

Later that day, she phoned Snow and asked if he did anything else to her, the court heard. He replied he hadn't.

"The accused in this case had no basis or grounds to believe she was consenting, not only because she was asleep, but because he was aware of the amount of alcohol she had drunk and he was aware she had taken a sleeping tablet," Mr Veltro said.

But defence barrister Raymond Hood said there was "a degree of inconsistency and unreliability as far as the complainant is concerned".

He questioned why she would lie on the couch beside Snow after he had allegedly made unwanted advances.

He said the jury would hear evidence she also had her head on Snow's lap at one point while he stroked her hair.

Mr Hood said an incident did take place in the woman's bed that night.

"But this lady well knew what was taking place at that particular time and she was consenting to what was taking place," he said.

The trial continues before Judge Brian Knox.

ninemsn.com.au 26 Aug 2013