A serving Metropolitan police officer has appeared in court charged with rape after an incident near Newport, Shropshire. Special constable Paul Hoile, 40, based in the force’s north-west command unit, was arrested in Benfleet, Essex, at about 10.30pm on Wednesday on suspicion of rape and was charged on Friday. He has been charged with three charges of rape and an offence under section four of the Sexual Offences Act. He appeared at Kidderminster magistrates court on Saturday in connection with an incident on Tuesday, West Mercia police said. He was remanded in custody to appear at Shrewsbury crown court on 8 August. The Met’s directorate of professional standards is aware and the officer has been suspended.