Misconduct hearing for ex-cop
A police officer “missed the opportunity” to arrest killer cop Wayne Couzens just hours before he abducted and murdered Sarah Everard, a disciplinary hearing heard. PC Samantha Lee, who has since left the Met Police and started an OnlyFans account, had the opportunity to track down and arrest Couzens after he flashed a worker at a drivethru in Swanley in February 2021. But the hearing heard how PC Lee failed to carry out a vital cross reference check which would have revealed the 50year-old’s address.
Couzens - from Deal - had flashed at staff twice at the fastfood chain, leading to a 999 call following an incident on
February 27 but the officer wasn’t sent to the outlet until March 3. She was scheduled to go for an hour as her last job of the day and was handed CCTV, bank card details and a description of Couzens and his car by the store manager, it is alleged.
Checks revealed his name and she carried out a Police National Computer (PNC) search but failed to carry out one last cross reference check. Despite noting he should be arrested for indecent exposure no action was taken just hours before he murdered Sarah Everard.
The misconduct panel investigating Lee heard how the Met police have no system that checks the car and bank details of a suspect against members of the force.
However, PC Lee failed to log the CCTV and denied having seen it. The evidence could have led to Couzens being arrested, said Paul Ozin on behalf of the Met Police.
Ms Everard was abducted from London on March 3 by Couzens and brought to Kent, where he raped and murdered her.
PC Lee has now left the force and is reported to have set up an OnlyFans site as Officer Naughty. She was charged with gross misconduct by failing in two aspects, duties and responsibilities and honesty and integrity.
The hearing continues.