Former Met cop is guilty of sending racist text

A FORMER police officer has been convicted of sending a grossly offensive racist message on WhatsApp.

- Lucas Cumiskey

Michael Chadwell, 62, posted a graphic created by someone else and shared on social media in a private group made up of retired Metropolitan Police officers in September last year.

A picture showed different coloured parrots above an image of children of different races, with text saying: "Why do we cherish the variety of colour in every species... but our own?" Underneath, a comment in response said: "Because I've never had a bike stolen out of my front yard by a parrot."

Silliness

Chadwell, from Liss, Hampshire, last month denied one count of sending by public communication a grossly offensive racist message. But he has been found guilty after a trial at City of London magistrates' court.

His five co-defendants, also former Met officers, last month admitted sending grossly offensive racist messages in the same group.