A McDonald’s manager has contradicted the evidence of a former Metropolitan Police officer about CCTV footage of flashing incidents involving Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens. 

Former Met Police officer Ms Lee is said to have failed to make “the correct investigative inquiries” over two incidents when Couzens exposed himself at the restaurant’s drive-through in Swanley, Kent, on 14 and 27 February 2021.

On both occasions, Couzens – then a serving Met Police officer – was seen by female staff to have his pants open and his penis on display.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ms Lee attended the restaurant to interview the branch’s manager, Sam Taylor, hours before Couzens kidnapped Sarah Everard in Clapham, southwest London, on 3 March.

Ms Lee is alleged to have lied about her actions when questioned later, as she claimed she believed the CCTV at the restaurant deleted automatically and so there was no CCTV evidence of Couzens or the offence.

But at the hearing, Mr Taylor said he had shown Ms Lee CCTV footage and told her it could be downloaded onto a USB stick.

“I showed her on the actual screen in the office,” he said.

“I showed her what I looked at before using the time from the receipts and it shows the car coming around.”

He said he told her Couzens’ registration plate could be seen in the CCTV footage of the second incident.

He knew what times to play the CCTV because of time stamps on Couzens’ receipts.

“I said: ‘We could burn this on a USB’,” he added.

Mr Taylor told the hearing he showed Ms Lee all the evidence he had, adding: “I told her everything I knew and I explained how we caught him out the second time.”

He said Ms Lee stayed at the restaurant for “probably” 10 minutes in total.

“It wasn’t quick, it wasn’t long either, it was probably 10 minutes,” he added.

Read more:
Police officer ‘missed opportunity to investigate Couzens’
How Sarah Everard’s killer was caught

Ms Lee is said to have breached the force’s standards on duties and responsibilities as well as honesty and integrity.

She denies both allegations.

If she is found to have committed gross misconduct, she could be banned from serving in the force again.

The misconduct hearing in Southwark, London, is expected to last seven days.

In March, Couzens – already serving a whole life prison term – was sentenced to 19 months in prison after admitting three counts of indecent exposure.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The third indecent exposure incident related to when Couzens exposed himself to a female cyclist on a Kent country lane in November 2020.

He was given a whole life order for kidnapping Ms Everard as she walked home through Clapham on 3 March 2021 and then murdering her.

Related posts:

NHS nurse: ‘I was given a £10,000 COVID fine – but I will take it to the High Court’ ‘Things could get bad very quickly’: Calls for caution as doubts grow over ending lockdown Third British victim of Kabul airport blast was taxi driver trying to help wife and grandson escape Cardiff Rugby team unable to leave South Africa after suspected Omicron COVID case Gove criticised for using ‘silly voices’ during broadcast interview Ryan Giggs breaks down in tears in court as he describes night in cell as ‘worst experience’ British woman dies on beach in Portugal ‘Child’s birthday party’ protest outside prison to demonstrate against jailing pregnant women Police hunting pregnant woman’s killer seize car – as officers to return to murder scene Westminster Accounts: Search for your MP Tube passengers panic as smoke fills carriages Prince Harry arrives at King’s coronation