Wayne Couzens sentenced for indecent exposure

The former Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens has been sentenced to 19 months for indecent exposure.

The incidents happened in the months before he murdered 33 year old Sarah Everard.

The 50 year old is already serving a whole life jail sentence for the the killing.

In March 2021, Couzens, then a serving officer with the Metropolitan Police, snatched marketing executive Ms Everard as she walked home in south London.

Following his conviction, Couzens, formerly from Deal in Kent, was charged with multiple counts of indecent exposure.

A claim by his legal team that he could not face a fair trial due to publicity around Ms Everard's murder was dismissed by a senior judge.

In February, Couzens went on to plead guilty at the Old Bailey to three counts of indecent exposure.

Couzens flashed woman while on duty

The incidents took place in woodland and at a fast food restaurant in Kent between November 2020 and February 2021.

Wayne Couzens was supposed to be on duty, working from home, when he flashed at a female cyclist before he kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, a court has heard.

Details of the ex-Metropolitan Police officer's activities in the months before the killing were heard at the Old Bailey as he appeared to be sentenced for three offences of indecent exposure.

The flashing incidents took place in woodland and at a fast food restaurant in Kent between November 2020 and February 2021.

The last incident happened just a few days before 33-year-old Ms Everard was snatched in south London on March 3 2021 and raped and murdered in the early hours of the following day.

On Monday, Couzens appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from Frankland Prison to be sentenced by Mrs Justice May.

Opening the facts, prosecutor Tom Little KC said Couzens had stood completely naked before a female cyclist in Ringwould Road near Dover on November 13 2020.

At the time, Couzens was on duty and was supposed to be working from home in Deal, the court was told.

The prosecutor said the incident happened on an isolated narrow rural lane running inland between Deal and Dover.

It is only a few miles from where the defendant took Ms Everard, having kidnapped her and after he had moved her from one vehicle to another in Dover.

Couzens stepped out of the woods and stood on a bank above the female cyclist as she rode uphill towards him.

Mr Little said the defendant was "totally naked" and masturbating as he looked at the woman.

He said: "She felt she had no choice but to continue cycling along that country lane.

"There were no words exchanged between them. She had a clear view of him and clearly remembered what he looked like."

Around 50 metres further on, she cycled past a parked black car which looked "old" and "a little battered" but she was unable to recall the full number plate.

As she rode on, the cyclist came across two women and told them what she had seen.

One of them said she was a police officer and would keep a look out, the court heard.

When she reached a crossroads, the cyclist rang her husband and later reported the incident online to Kent Police, providing a description saying he was "middle-aged with a slight paunch".

At the time, Couzens had a black Seat car in poor condition but, in the absence of a number plate match, the investigation stalled.

Recognised after arrest for Everard murder

After Couzen's arrest over the disappearance of Ms Everard, the cyclist recognised him from his picture.

Mr Little said: "As a result, she contacted the police again. She felt instant shock at seeing the picture and said she was 90% sure it was him who masturbated in front of her.

"Further inquiries have confirmed that the defendant was due to be working from home in Deal on 13 November 2020between 8am and 4pm. It follows that he was on duty at the time of the offence but was not at home."

Traffic cameras and cell site data located Couzens in his Seat in that country area at that time.

On March 25 2022, Couzens was interviewed about the incident and replied "No comment", the court heard.

A few months later, on different occasions on February 14 and 27 2021, Couzens exposed his genitals to staff at a drive-through fast food restaurant in Kent.

He sat in his car and looked straight at them as he showed his erect penis while handing over his card to pay for food.

The female staff affected were left "shaken, upset and angry".

On the last occasion, staff took a registration number and identified the car from CCTV as a black Seat which was registered to Couzens.

A credit card in his name was used to pay, while ANPR and cell site data was used to track the defendant's car in the area at the time of the incidents.

In March 2021, Couzens, then a serving officer, snatched marketing executive Ms Everard as she walked home in south London.

Following his murder conviction, Couzens was charged with six counts of indecent exposure.

In February, he pleaded guilty to three of the charges after a bid to get the case thrown out due to publicity around Ms Everard's murder.

He had denied three other indecent exposure allegations in June 2015, one between January 22 and February 1 2021, and one between January 30 and February 6 2021.

Those charges are expected to be left on court file.

An independent inquiry led by Dame Elish Angiolini will consider Couzens' earlier sexual offending and whether opportunities were missed to stop him before he murdered Ms Everard.

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