Otago Daily Times
February 2, 2004

Policewoman told baton 'used for sex'
NZPA

Wellington: A former Rotorua policewoman says she was told her missing police baton had been "used for sex", as a new inquiry is launched into a woman's allegations she was raped by three police officers.

Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas has claimed the three officers pack-raped her and violated her with a police baton in 1986. She also alleges her original complaint in 1993 was not properly investigated and she was manipulated by another police officer.

Carolyn Butcher, who was in the same squad as one of the three accused men, told One News last night her baton went missing in the mid-1980s. She declined to say who returned it to her, but said the explanation was it had been "used for sex".

"I had the feeling it was a threesome, from the suggestions that were made," she said.

"I am disgusted that there's a possibility that someone could have used my baton in that way…

"The circumstances surrounding it quite disgust me and it makes me sad that someone has put me in the position of having my baton used for such a thing."

However, Ms Butcher said it would only be "speculation" on her part to suggest there was a link with Mrs Nicholas' allegations.

She had informed "many people" about the incident at the time, but former detective chief inspector Rex Miller, who headed a Police Complaints Authority investigation, said investigators were never told.

Mrs Nicholas appeared deeply moved to hear of Ms Butcher's revelations.

"It's pretty gutsy for a policewoman - for any member of the police - to come forward to help me," she told One News .

"It hurts me to know there are other families out there who are going to be affected by this," she said, wiping away tears.

"But at the end of the day, I've got to do what's right for me."