Pc abused position to spy on wife

A policeman from Lancashire abused his position by seizing CCTV footage from two pubs to spy on his unfaithful wife before attacking her, a court heard.

Andrew Liptrot, of Lostock Hall, who has already admitted seven counts of misconduct in a public office, denies three counts of assaulting wife, Karen.

Preston Crown Court heard the 47-year-old pretended he was investigating a serious crime to take the CCTV footage.

He also threw his naked wife from their house and attacked her, jurors heard.

The court heard that he told the British Airways stewardess as she stood unclothed: "Stand up so that the whole world can see what a dirty person you are."

A few moments afterwards, Mrs Liptrot was allowed back inside the house where her husband swung her round the bedroom by her hair, hitting her head, the prosecution claimed.

He was determined to find out as much as he could

Peter Davies, prosecution barrister

Six days after the attack, which happened on 18 March last year, Mr Liptrot pushed his wife to the floor and grabbed her again, the court heard.

Peter Davies, prosecuting, said the police constable, who worked as a crime prevention officer in Accrington, had become "obsessed" with his wife's affair with his best friend, Darren Watson.

Mr Liptrot used a work computer to spy on Mr Watson in an attempt to find out "incriminating" information about him.

Mr Davies said that the accused also installed software on his computer allowing him access to his wife's text messages.

He did this after reading a message in which she confided that she did not love him any more, the court heard.

"He had become obsessed about the affair and he was determined to find out as much as he could about it," Mr Davies said.

Mr Liptrot was arrested after his wife left the family home, taking their two young sons, and went to her parents' home in Morecambe.

He has admitted seven counts of misconduct in a public office, relating to the misuse of police computers and accessing the CCTV footage, but denies assault.

The trial continues.