A former colleague of a police officer accused of grooming a teenager said he warned the accused to “be addicted to something else” after she claimed her bond with the girl stemmed from an “addictive personality”.
Former States of Jersey Police officer Elle Rebecca Keens is accused of grooming the teenage girl for her sexual gratification.
The 29-year-old woman is also accused of attempting to pervert the court of justice by encouraging the girl to withdraw her statement.
Ms Keens, who resigned from the police force in May 2023, denies the charges.
On the second day of the trial, the court heard evidence from PC Ricky Passman – one of Ms Keens’s former colleagues.
He said he had once seen Ms Keens and the teenager travelling together in a BMW, which appeared to be an unmarked police car.
PC Passman said Ms Keens had explained that her attachment to the teenager was the result of having “an addictive personality”, and had told him: “I care too much. She’s like my little sister.”
“I said she should be addicted to something else instead,” PC Passman told the court.
He added that Ms Keens had said: “I just love her like she’s family. I feel sorry for her.”
When the allegations were made, she told her colleague: “I never f**ing touched her. It feels sick. Everyone thinks I’m a pedo.”
Video clips of Ms Keens and the teen were also shown in court yesterday by the prosecution.
In one of the two clips, Ms Keens is seen putting her head on the teenager’s shoulder and telling her: “I love you.”
The other shows Ms Keens and the teenager walking while holding hands.
On the first day of the trial, Crown Advocate Paul Lee read some of the messages Ms Keens had sent to the teenager.
They stated “I’m horny for you”, “do you see the way I look at you?”, “marry me”, and “I love you, you’re so cute”.
Much more sexually explicit messages were exchanged after the teenager turned 16.
The trial, which continues today, is being heard by Jurats rather than a jury.
Commissioner Alan Binnington is presiding with Jurats Averty and Gardener.