Met Police constable in court accused of committing two rapes in 10 days

A SERVING Metropolitan Police officer raped two women within the space of 10 days, a court has heard.

PC Rupert Edwards, 29, who is attached to the Southwest Basic Command Unit, which covers Wandsworth, Richmond, Merton and Kingston in southwest London, is accused of carrying out the attacks on August 26 and September 5 this year.

The first offence is alleged to have taken place at an address in Surrey, when Mr Edwards was off duty, while the second is said to have taken place at a property in Lambeth, south London.

One of the alleged victims is in her 20s and the other is in her 30s.

Mr Edwards, from Ashtead, Surrey, was arrested on suspicion of rape on September 5, bailed and suspended from duty. He was arrested again on Thursday and charged with two counts of rape at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday. He spoke only to confirm his personal details.

The court heard that he knew one of the women but met the other one on the night of the alleged offence. Mr Edwards was remanded in custody until Jan 6 when he is due to appear at Inner London Crown Court.

Nathan Paine-davey, prosecuting told the court Commander Jon Savell, in charge of the Met’s professionalism command, said: “This news is deeply worrying and I recognise the concern it will cause the public and other police officers. We took immediate action to suspend Pc Edwards from duty when he was first arrested in September.

“Legal proceedings are now active and it is important that I do not comment while that process takes place.”

The Met’s directorate of professional standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct have been informed. ♦ A former Metropolitan Police special constable has been cleared of rape and misconduct in public office. A jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court acquitted 40-year-old Paul Hoile of three counts of rape, one of misconduct, and an allegation of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

Jurors deliberated for nearly five hours before returning not guilty verdicts yesterday.