A serving Metropolitan Police officer has denied raping two women within 11 days.

Suspended Pc Rupert Edwards, 30, is accused of carrying out the alleged attacks on the complainants, who are in their 20s and 30s.

He is alleged to have raped one woman in Epsom, Surrey, on August 26, and the other in Lambeth, south London, on September 5, while he was off-duty.

Edwards, from Ashtead, Surrey, appeared in the dock at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, wearing a navy-blue suit, white shirt and dark tie.

He spoke to confirm his name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to two counts of rape.

His barrister, Ailsa Williamson, said the issues in the case would be consent and the reasonable belief of consent for both complainants.

Judge Usha Karu said Edwards faces a five-day trial on October 3.

Scotland Yard previously said the officer, attached to the South West Basic Command Unit, was arrested on suspicion of rape on September 5, and was bailed and suspended from duty.

On December 8 he was further arrested on suspicion of rape, and charged the following day.

Edwards was remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 9, but was granted conditional bail on Friday.

He must live and sleep at his aunt’s address in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, with an electronically monitored curfew between 8pm and 8am, the area of which was amended on Monday to allow him to let his dog out in the back garden.

Edwards cannot go into the M25 area, apart from to attend court or pre-arranged meetings with his lawyers, and must not contact any of the complainants or prosecution witnesses in the case.