New Met misogyny scandal as serving officer jailed for coercive control and assault of ex-girlfriend

THE Met Police was facing a fresh misogyny scandal last night after a serving officer was sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment for assault causing actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour against a female colleague.

PC Jamie Rayner, 27, (above) from Gravesend, was sentenced on Thursday at Croydon Crown Court, after he earlier pleaded guilty to both charges in connection with fellow officer Bonnie Hudson who he was in a relationship with.

He was accused of using threats against Miss Hudson to keep her in their ten-month relationship, leaving her “in fear of violence” and causing her actual bodily harm while they were dating.

The court heard he was arrested on March 24 and later charged with the offences, which were committed off duty.

It was a month after Rayner, who worked in the Met's South Area Command Unit, himself was racially harassed while on duty by a male suspect in the Croydon area.

A Met Police spokesman said: "He has been suspended from duty. Misconduct proceedings will now follow the conclusion of criminal matters."

The Met has launched a review of its vetting procedures and cultures after a series of scandals following the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens.

A number of serving officers have since been arrested on suspicion of rapes and child sex offences, while misconduct proceedings have heard of inappropriate advances to vulnerable victims and suspects and misogynistic messages and social media posts.

Chief Superintendent Dave Stringer, in charge of policing for Bromley, Croydon and Sutton, said: “PC Rayner’s actions are totally unacceptable and fall far short of the standards we expect in our organisation. Moreover, this shocking behaviour undermines the public’s confidence and trust.

“All of us in the Met know we need to continue to build public confidence in this area, and we will deal with issues which involve police officers in a robust and transparent way through criminal and misconduct routes.

“No one should be in any doubt that my officers and I are completely committed to investigating cases of controlling and coercive behaviour and, as in this case, will provide specialist support to those who come forward and report this type of crime."