A DECORATED police officer has been charged with raping a woman and having sex with her while he was on duty.

Nicholas Stone is facing four charges, the earliest of which dates back to 1999.

Devon & Cornwall Police have confirmed the 40-year-old was a serving officer, working in Tiverton as a police constable, when the alleged offences took place.

The case of Stone, who has since transferred to Avon & Somerset Police, was heard at Exeter Magistrates' Court when he faced a charge of raping a woman in Tiverton in the summer of 2001.

He was also accused of willful misconduct by engaging in sexual intercourse with the same woman while he was on duty in 1999 and misconduct by shouting at and assaulting her six months later.

Stone is also alleged to have unlawfully threatened, while on duty, to arrest another woman if she failed to do as she was told by him in December 2009. In the latter two charges it is alleged Stone was not acting in the execution of his duty.

By prior arrangement the officer did not appear in court to face the charges and the case was adjourned until Friday, September 3.

Stone, of Pitminster, near Taunton, has been granted bail.

He was suspended from his post when the allegations came to light and is likely to remain so until the case reaches its conclusion. A spokesman for the Devon & Cornwall Police said: "Nicholas Stone used to work for Devon and Cornwall Police, in the rank of police constable.

"He has transferred to the Avon and Somerset force since these alleged offences took place.

"We cannot comment on criminal proceeding while they are ongoing."

A spokesman for Avon & Somerset Police confirmed Stone had been suspended but would not comment further on his current rank or type of role he now carried out.

In 2003 Stone was one of several officers to receive a commendation from the then Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, Maria Wallis, for good police work.