A ROYAL Air Force employee has been charged with rape.

Masixole Matshaya, of the Royal Air Force base in Benson, Wallingford, has been charged with one count each of rape and assault of a female.

The 45-year-old is accused of raping a woman in Swindon on October 8 last year. He is also accused of assaulting her by penetration on the same day.

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She cannot be named for legal reasons.

Matshaya is due at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (August 7) for his first hearing. It is unknown whether or not he’ll be asked to make a plea.

The case may then be adjourned for a different type of hearing and could be sent up to the higher courts such as Swindon Crown Court.