OnlyFans cop who failed to nail Wayne Couzens says she was 'bullied' out of job
A former police officer who failed to nail Wayne Couzens when she was sent to investigate a report of indecent exposure before he killed Sarah Everard claims she was "bullied out" of her job due to misogyny.
Samantha Lee, 29, had identified Couzens as a suspect for indecent exposure at a McDonald's branch in Kent, but a check on his name showed no criminal record matches, and she was not aware that he was a police officer.
The woman, who was suspended from the Metropolitan Police last year after the discovery of an OnlyFans account she had set up under the name 'Officer Naughty', failed to make "the correct investigative inquiries" in March 2021, just days before Couzens killed Ms Everard, a gross misconduct hearing was told.
Paul Ozin, KC, representing the Metropolitan Police, said at the hearing last month: "Who knows what would have happened if a visit to Wayne Couzens's door had occurred earlier that day?"
Wayne Couzens was sentenced to a whole-life term for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard (Kent Messenger / SWNS)Couzens, 50, had exposed himself to staff at a McDonald's in Swanley on February 14 and February 27, 2021.
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However, since indecent exposure was regarded as a low-level crime, it was only given to an officer to attend until three days later.
On March 3, Lee arrived at Bromley police station and then headed to the McDonald's restaurant at 11.30am to investigate the report.
She missed the CCTV of the killer cop on the forecourt as she said she already had his plate number and said that because there were no victims present to take formal statements, at the time there was not enough evidence for an arrest, the panel heard.
When she returned to Bromley station, Lee stored handwritten statements and two receipts in a folder in her locker, saying she was confused about how to correctly log them as indecent exposure evidence, the hearing was told.
The former cop said she ran checks on Couzens's number plate - and his name was linked to an address in Kent, but there were no criminal record matches and no indication that he was a police officer.
Lee then filed a report leaving a note for the next unit to say that the case should not be closed - and that the man should be arrested as soon as they had enough evidence.
Lee outside Palestra House in Southwark, south London (PA)While she investigated the report, however, Couzens had already bought equipment to aid his kidnap - and at about 9.30pm on March 3, he abducted Ms Everard.
When days later, on her day off, news emerged that Couzens had abducted, raped, and killed the 33-year-old near Clapham Common, south London, Lee found out that she was under investigation - but claimed she had been told she should not be too worried.
In May 2021, Lee was handed a misconduct notice and said she began feeling "targeted and bullied" by her Met colleagues.
She was signed off at work and when she was named publicly, she began facing threats to kidnap, rape and murder her.
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The former cop was suspended in November last year following the discovery of an OnlyFans account she had set up under the name 'Officer Naughty' while she was still employed by the Met.
She said it was the only way she could make enough money to care for her four horses.
Lee told the Sunday Times she was "scapegoated" by Scotland Yard for its handling of the Everard case - and believes she has been a victim of misogyny.
She said: "This poor woman had the most horrific crimes committed against her before her murder and obviously with the murder [itself], and it's like, 'We'll just blame another woman'.
"The actual blame lies solely with Wayne Couzens and it should stay solely with Wayne Couzens."
Inspector Rita Jones told the hearing that even if Lee had escalated the case so that Kent police officers could have been sent to Couzens's house, an arrest would have not happened until the following day at the earliest.
On Thursday night, a new documentary called 'Wayne Couzens: Killer in Plain Sight', will air on Channel 5.
Through interviews with expert witnesses and members of law enforcement, the film investigates how the murderer was allowed to hide in plain sight.
After the misconduct hearing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “I recognise this entire case has raised concerns and questions.
"An independent IOPC investigation concluded former PC Lee should face a misconduct hearing for allegations about her honesty and integrity, and how she carried out her duties and responsibilities.
"Today, a panel led by an independent chair, found that her actions fell below the professional standards expected of her.
"As the panel has made clear, honesty and integrity are fundamental to policing and our relationship with the public.
"The purpose of the gross misconduct hearing was not to decide whether Wayne Couzens’ future offending could have been prevented.
"The wider circumstances leading to Sarah Everard’s terrible murder will be considered by the Angiolini Inquiry and any subsequent inquest, and we are fully assisting them with their vital work.
"Fundamentally, I am sorry that Couzens was not arrested before he went on to murder Sarah Everard and we continue to think of her loved ones.
"We know that in recent years the Met’s response to violence against women and girls has not been good enough. We are working hard with survivors, communities and partners to improve our response and rebuild trust."
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