Three Metropolitan Police officers joked in a WhatsApp group that Wayne Couzens was a part of about raping a female colleague and being well-practised in “battle hugs,” a court has heard.
Pc Jonathon Cobban, Pc William Neville and former officer Joel Borders on trial accused of sharing grossly offensive messages on the instant messaging service between April and August 2019.
The material was found on a WhatsApp group stored on one of Couzens’ old phones after he was arrested for the kidnapping, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021. Couzens is serving a life sentence.
All three defendants served with Met Police officers at the time and some of their “grossly racist, sexist, misogynistic” messages were sent while on duty, the Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard Thursday.
The defendants admitted that they sent the messages between April and August 2019, but deny that they crossed the criminal law threshold of gross offense.
‘Completely humiliating’
Neville said his experience with “battle cuddles” “came in handy” when he had to “pin down a 15-year-old girl who was mentally on the floor,” the court heard.
Mr. Cobban — who was a race and diversity custodian when he served in the Civil Nuclear Police Firearms Unit — replied, “Haha battle stuffs are always useful…good skills!”
Prosecutor Edward Brown QC defined a “battle gadget” as “a fantasy rape or other non-consensual physical touching,” but defending Nicholas Yeo, said it was a non-sexual term that came from officer training.
Mr. Brown said that “the implied undertone” that Mr. Neville liked using physical coercion to conceal unconsensual sexual contact was “utterly demeaning and grossly insulting to any young girl seeking a sympathetic and professional treatment from a police officer, and this deserved it”.
On another occasion, Mr Borders said a female colleague, referred to in court by the pseudonym Kate, “would lead me and lock me up if I raped and beat her! Secret bitch.”
Jokes belittle victims of domestic violence
Jokes were also exchanged about guns and tasers being used on the vulnerable, the court heard, with Mr Borders saying: “I can’t wait to use guns so I can shoot some c— in the face.”
Mr Cobban replied that he wanted to use his Taser on children, cats and dogs, to which Mr Borders replied, “What about some fuzz?”
Mr Brown highlighted individual examples of jokes that disparage and stereotype victims of domestic violence, as well as homophobic statements.
The prosecutor said: “This must be seen in the context of and in conjunction with the need to maintain public trust in the police – an urgent societal need in itself, or at the very least the context in which the comments should be made.” being watched.
“Thinking members of the public would be greatly offended not only by the comments themselves, but to know that they were serving police officers, including serving police officers, discussing their colleagues and the citizens they are supposed to serve in the terms used. . in these messages, often in an enthusiastic and encouraging way without contradiction.”
Mr Cobban and Mr Borders are charged on five counts of sending grossly abusive messages while Mr Neville is charged on two counts. They deny the violations.
The two-day trial, heard by District Judge Sarah Turnock, continues.