Former police constable Samantha Lee is said to have failed to make "the correct investigative inquiries" over two incidents in which Couzens exposed himself to female members of staff at a restaurant in Swanley, Kent, on 14 and 27 February, a police disciplinary hearing was told.
The then PC Lee attended the restaurant on 3 March and interviewed the branch manager, hours before Everard was kidnapped by Couzens in Clapham, southwest London. Ms Lee is also said to have lied about her actions when questioned, claiming she believed that the CCTV at the restaurant was deleted automatically, the hearing heard yesterday.
According to a statement given by Sam Taylor, the manager of the McDonald’s drive-through in Swanley, in both of the reported incidents, Couzens was seen by female members of staff to have his trousers down and his penis visible. Mr Taylor’s statement read: “On both occasions the customer was sitting in his car with his trousers fully down and his penis out on display.”
Opening the case on behalf of the Met Police yesterday, Paul Ozin KC told the hearing that after Mr Taylor reported the incidents to police on 28 February, the matter was triaged and recorded as “less urgent” than other matters the force had to deal with.
This story is from the May 16, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 16, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Dozens Of Migrants Rescued After Channel Boat Capsizes
Around 80 migrants have been rescued in the English Channel after the boat they were travelling in capsized off the coast of Kent.
Alcaraz And Sinner Take The Spotlight From Old Guard
Their meeting in the French Open semis today signals an exciting new era in the men’s game, says Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek beats raging Gauff to reach French Open final
Iga Swiatek moved one step away from a fourth French Open title as Coco Gauff was reduced to tears during her semi-final exit yesterday at Roland Garros. An emotional Gauff had a blazing row with umpire Aurelie Tourte, telling the official she should be ashamed” for not overturning a call.
Grealish and Maddison out of England's Euros squad
Midfield stars missing from Gareth Southgate's final 26
FAMILIES AT WAR
‘House of the Dragon’ takes viewers back to Westeros for a second series that is rich in intrigue, writes Louis Chilton
CHAOS IN CLUBLAND
Charlie XCX slips vulnerability into disorienting bangers on 'Brat', writes Helen Brown, while 'Born in the Wild' by Tems is as assured a debut as any Roisin O'Connor has listened to
How My Fair Lady dodged the culture war kvetchers
For some, the 1964 classic is ultimately a movie about men grooming young women. But for most, its charm, style and ambiguity keep the film relevant, writes Geoffrey Macnab
Shake off those prejudices about studying Taylor Swift
Academic studies on the merits of the star’s lyrics are not the Mickey Mouse courses you might think, says Dr Clio Doyle
We must continue to teach children the lesson of D-Day
When we commemorate D-Day, what exactly are we doing? We are remembering, with great reverence, the bravery and sacrifice of an event 80 years ago: the largest amphibious invasion in history, which precipitated the liberation of France, and Nazi Germany's surrender, 11 months later.
Taliban's exclusion of girls from schools hits 1,000 days
Afghanistan is set to mark 1,000 dark days since the Taliban banned girls from attending school beyond the age of 12, dimming any prospect of women being allowed back into the formal education system in the near future.
