MINISTRY of Defence (MOD) police officers drove into a supermarket car park just minutes after a former Herefordshire detective was alleged to have sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl, a court heard yesterday.

Police sergeant Robert Childs and police constable Christopher Barrett were calling into the Belmont Tesco store for a soft drink when three men flagged their 4x4 vehicle down.

Gloucester Crown Court was told the three Welsh men told the MOD officers something strange had gone on between a young girl and a man claiming to be a policeman.

The young girl ran out of the car park with her 17-year-old friend when they saw the police vehicle approaching.

However, the two MOD officers found the two teenagers later that night inside the Tesco store being loud and abusive near a till.

PC Barrett told the jury the 13-year-old gave him a false name before a security guard explained her true identity.

She was then arrested for being in breach of a court order on April 12 of last year.

The court was told earlier in the week the two girls had got into Gough’s car on Commercial Road following a drunk night out with friends.

Gough, a serving police officer at the time, drove them to Tesco where it is alleged that he put his hand down the younger girl’s underwear.

The 17-year-old got out of the car to buy a drink and asked three men from Merthry Tydfil for help as she worried for her friend who was now alone with an “old man”.

They all approached and following a verbal altercation Gough drove away alone.

Gough, aged 55, and from Spring Gardens, Malvern, denies sexual activity with a 13-year-old and attempted kidnap.

Fiona Elder, prosecuting, said Gough claims he was a victim of circumstances and was merely trying to help the teenagers by giving them a lift home.