Officers have been left ‘sickened, angered and devastated’ by Wayne Couzens’ crimes, Scotland Yard has said.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Service said: ‘Former Metropolitan Police officer PC Wayne Couzens will be sentenced for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard over the next two days.

‘We are sickened, angered and devastated by this man’s crimes which betray everything we stand for.

‘Our thoughts are with Sarah’s family and her many friends. It is not possible for us to imagine what they are going through.

‘We recognise his actions raise many questions and concerns but we will not be commenting further until the hearing is complete.’

He was accused of indecent exposure in the days before the killing, and the force is facing questions over why the allegations were not taken more seriously – especially after being accused of the same crime in Kent in 2015.

Couzens, 48, is currently in the dock at the Old Bailey while the court hears the details of the case.

He was a serving officer when he ‘arrested’ and abducted the marketing executive, 33, as she walked home in Clapham, south London, on the evening of March 3.

Her body was found a week after she disappeared in a woodland stream in Ashford, Kent, just metres from land owned by Couzens.

Couzens, who was firearms trained, was sacked by the force after he admitted her kidnap, rape and murder.

Ms Everard’s killing prompted national outrage and sparked protests over violence against and the safety of women.

Speaking outside the Old Bailey in July, Met Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she was ‘very sorry’ for the loss, pain and suffering of the Everard family.

She said: ‘All of us in the Met are sickened, angered and devastated by this man’s truly dreadful crimes. Everyone in policing feels betrayed.’

Opening the case, prosecutor Tom Little QC said the former officer’s crimes could be summarised as: ‘Deception, kidnap, rape, strangulation, fire.’

The court heard how Couzens was some £29,000 in debt and was locked in a dispute with the Met over his pay.

The sentencing continues.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Source: Read Full Article