MPS ‘sorry’ Wayne Couzens not arrested for exposure crimes before murdering Sarah Everard

The former MPS officer was sentenced to 19 months in prison for exposing himself to women in the months before he kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said he was “sorry” that Couzens had not been arrested for these offences before he went on to murder Ms Everard.

Couzens, 50, is currently serving a whole-life sentence for the rape and murder of Ms Everard in early March 2021.

On Monday (March 6) he pleaded guilty to three offences of exposure between November 2020 and February 2021 carried out while he was a serving MPS officer.

The MPS says the sentencing of Couzens for indecent exposure reflects the impact these “awful crimes” had on the women he targeted.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, who leads the MPS Specialist Crime Command team that also investigated the murder of Ms Everard, said: “Those who came forward have shown strength and dignity in the face of Couzens’ attempts to scare and demean them for his own satisfaction.

“I would like to recognise their patience and co-operation throughout the case, and thank them for standing up to him. Without them justice could not have been served.”

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Special Crime Division, said: “Couzens repeatedly targeted women to expose himself to on multiple occasions. These offences were abhorrent and caused great distress and discomfort for the victims.

“It is right that he has been prosecuted for these offences, and that he will continue to spend the rest of his life in prison.”

On November 13, 2020, Couzens exposed himself to a cyclist in the Deal, Kent area. The witness reported the incident online to Kent Police and provided a description of Couzens. After seeing pictures of Couzens on the news related to the disappearance of Ms Everard, she contacted the police again and identified him as the person who exposed himself to her, the CPS said.

The second offence occurred on February 14, 2021, when Couzens exposed himself to two workers at a McDonald’s drive-through in Swanley. He then exposed himself to another worker at the same drive-through on February 27, 2021. Both incidents were caught on CCTV footage.

Mr Cundy, who leads the MPS’s Directorate of Professional Standards, said: “Today’s sentencing reflects the impact these awful crimes committed by Couzens’ has had on the women he targeted.

“I have read the victim impact statements and it is clear to me the hurt and trauma that he inflicted on them. It is their courage that has been crucial in bringing him to justice and I am sorry for what they have gone through.

“Like so many, I wish he had been arrested for these offences before he went on to kidnap, rape and murder Sarah Everard and I am sorry that he wasn’t.

“The Met’s response to these crimes has been independently investigated. One officer is due to face a misconduct hearing and the events surrounding the death of Sarah Everard will be examined by the coroner.

“The fact he did this whilst serving as a police officer has brought shame on all us who swore to protect the communities we serve.

“My thoughts today are with all those targeted by Wayne Couzens and Sarah Everard’s family.”

The MPS said it had received an allegation of exposure at a location in Swanley, Kent, on February 28, 2021. This was recorded and passed to a local officer to investigate.

“By the time of Sarah Everard’s kidnap, on March 3, 2021, the investigation was not concluded and Couzens’ occupation had not been identified,” it said, adding that the progress of that investigation was voluntarily referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The MPS’s Specialist Crime team that investigated Ms Everard’s murder took on the exposure investigation, given its links to Couzens.

“Through a combination of numberplate recognition, financial, and telephone records work, and speaking with victims, the team built a case against Couzens. They passed a file to the CPS who authorised charges,” said the MPS.

Couzens was sentenced to 19 months, six months, and six months to run concurrently for the three exposure offences.

Three charges of exposure were ordered to lie on file. They were:

• Exposure on June 9, 2015 in the Dover, Kent area;
• Exposure between January 22, 2021, and February 1, 2021, in the Swanley, Kent area; and
• Exposure between January 30, 2021, and February 6, 2021, in the Swanley, Kent area.

The IOPC investigation concluded that a PC, who was attached to the South Area Command Unit, should face a gross misconduct hearing to answer allegations they breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of duties and responsibilities and honesty and integrity. The officer has since resigned and left the MPS in 2022.

Another officer, a sergeant, also attached to the South Area Command Unit, was found to have no case to answer regarding their supervision of the exposure investigations.

The MPS said: “Following consultation with the CPS, this hearing was not heard prior to the conclusion of criminal proceedings in order to preserve the integrity of the trial. Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, the MPS’s Directorate of Professional Standards will seek to progress the hearing as soon as possible.

“Given the hearing and allegations are yet to be heard, we are unable to provide further details at this stage.

“We expect the full circumstances of Sarah’s murder to be considered by the coroner. While we appreciate there are many questions, the MPS does not wish to say or publish anything at this time that could impact on that process.”

Following the conclusion of all criminal proceedings against Couzens, the IOPC has now published its report into the Operation Argens investigation.

In a statement following Monday’s sentencing it said: “Our investigation began after a download of Couzens’ phone following his arrest revealed evidence of a Whatsapp group involving six other officers where messages, including racist and homophobic comments, and derogatory remarks aimed at domestic abuse victims, people with disabilities and women, were shared.

“As a result of our investigation, in September 2022, former MPS PCs Joel Borders and Jonathan Cobban were convicted of offences under the Communications Act 2003 and received prison sentences.

“They were given 12-week custodial sentences in November 2022 but were bailed pending an appeal.

“In December 2022, Borders and Cobban, and four other serving or former officers (MPS PC Gary Bailey and Civil Nuclear Constabulary PC Matthew Forster; former MPS PC William Neville; and former Norfolk Constabulary PC Daniel Comfort) also faced gross misconduct proceedings in relation to the messages, resulting in dismissal rulings for all six who are now barred from policing.

“This was a complex case involving officers from three police forces and we want to acknowledge those involved for their cooperation in getting the disciplinary hearing for the six officers arranged in a timely manner, following the conclusion of the criminal trial for former PCs Borders and Cobban.”

The IOPC said it had not investigated Couzens due to the criminal proceedings he was already facing relating to the kidnap, rape and murder of Ms Everard.

“As a result of reporting restrictions having ceased following the completion of criminal proceedings against Couzens, we can now mention the link to Couzens in our published report.”

In a statement to mark the second anniversary of the murder of Ms Everard, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, said: “My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Sarah Everard today and all those impacted by her death. Sarah was a brilliant and talented woman who had her whole life ahead of her and was loved deeply by her family and friends.

“Sarah’s murder at the hands of a serving police officer shocked the nation and brought into sharp focus a culture in the police which had fallen far below the high standards expected by decent police officers and the public.

“I’m determined to ensure that something like this is never allowed to happen again and am supporting the new Commissioner in his commitment to identify and rid the Met of those individuals within the force who are not fit to serve the people of our city.

“I am also holding the Commissioner to account to bring about the urgent step-change in culture, systems, standards and performance that’s so desperately needed to rebuild public confidence and trust in the police and help to build a safer London for everyone.”