A serving police officer has been suspended from duty after being charged with rape.

PC Andrej Sagaidak appeared before Westminster magistrates today after being charged with two counts rape, one count of non-fatal strangulation and one count of causing actual bodily harm on Friday. He was remanded in custody.

He had been working his probation period attached to the local policing team in south-east London – which includes Bexley.

Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, responsible for policing in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham said: "This is a deeply concerning allegation and I know it will cause significant concern.

"We took immediate action when we received the report and the officer was suspended from duty following his arrest on Thursday."

A spokesman for Met Police added: “An investigation was launched after we received a report that a man had been raped by another man at a residential property in Islington on Monday, January 1.

“The officer was off-duty at the time of the alleged offence. We continue to provide support to the victim and the investigation is ongoing.

“A mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).”