Clint Rickards (born January 20, 1961) is a former high-ranking New Zealand police officer who in the 2000s was accused of involvement in a number of

sexual crimes Sex and the law deals with the regulation by law of human sexual activity. Sex laws vary from one place or jurisdiction to another, and have varied over time. Unlawful sexual acts are called sex crimes. Some laws regarding sexual activity are ...

in the 1980s. These involved multiple police officers having sex with teenage girls. Rickards was brought to trial in two cases, one for the alleged rape of

Louise Nicholas Louise Nicholas is a New Zealand campaigner for the rights of women who have been victims of sexual violence. She has made rape allegations against at least nine men, including at least seven police officers. Although none of these allegations h ...

and another for allegedly kidnapping and indecently assaulting a then 16-year-old girl. He was

acquitted In common law jurisdictions, an acquittal certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as criminal law is concerned. The finality of an acquittal is dependent on the jurisdiction. In some countries, such as the ...

in both trials in March 2006. Although he and co-accused, former policemen Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum, were acquitted, the juries in both trials were not allowed to hear of the previous convictions of Schollum and Shipton or that they were both currently serving sentences for a pack rape that involved the use of a baton on a young woman in

Mt Maunganui Mount Maunganui (, ) is a major residential, commercial and industrial suburb of the Tauranga metropolitan area, located on a peninsula to the north-east of Tauranga's city centre. It was an independent town from Tauranga until the completio ...

in 1989. From 2004 to 2007 Rickards was suspended on full pay. He held the rank of Assistant Commissioner, but resigned from the police on 22 November 2007, one day before the official inquiry into his misconduct was scheduled to begin. The police paid out his contract to the equivalent of 13 months' salary (NZ$300,000) in a deal leading to the resignation. In 2008, Rickards completed a law degree, which he had been studying for during his suspension. He was admitted to the bar in November 2008. He was reported to be considering taking Louise Nicholas to court for what he considers perjury during the rape trial.

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1961 births Living people New Zealand police officers People acquitted of rape People acquitted of kidnapping {{NewZealand-crime-bio-stub

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