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Swanley McDonald’s manager did show Met Police officer CCTV footage of Wayne Couzens hours before he killed Sarah Everard, hearing told

By: Sean McPolin smcpolin@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 15:57, 16 May 2023

Updated: 16:06, 16 May 2023

CCTV of killer cop Wayne Couzens flashing at McDonald’s staff was shown to police before he raped and murdered Sarah Everard, a misconduct hearing was told today.

Met Police officer Samantha Lee, who has since left the force to start a career on OnlyFans, is accused of failing to correctly investigate two allegations Couzens exposed himself at the restaurant in Swanley.

PC Samantha Lee could be banned from serving in the force again if she is found to have committed gross misconduct. Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA

She is also accused of wilfully misleading a police investigation by telling fellow officers there was no CCTV footage of the incidents available.

The hearing was told murderer Couzens ordered a white coffee and cheeseburger and drove up to female staff with his genitals on Valentine's Day 2021.

McDonald’s branch manager Sam Taylor was told about the incident from another manager after he arrived home from his evening shift.

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Mr Taylor told the hearing he returned to work and scoured the CCTV and till receipts in an attempt to find the flasher.

The following day he messaged the work WhatsApp group warning his colleagues to look out for the car and log the details or take a photograph if he returned, at which point they could call the police.

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Samantha Lee is facing a misconduct hearing after being accused of failing to properly investigate Wayne Couzens. Picture: @inkedbarbie_of

Mr Taylor, who was a long-term McDonald’s employee, had only been working at the Swanley branch for a couple of weeks.

He told the panel he did not report the first incident to emergency services because he knew he didn’t have enough details.

Less than two weeks later, on the evening of February 27, Couzens returned to the branch and exposed himself again, prompting the manager to collect the CCTV and ring the police the following day.

Using the video and receipts he found the car registration and discovered the same Mastercard had been used to make both orders, the second of which had extra items of food.

During the second incident the camera was clearer and Couzens’ number plate was visible.

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The drive-thru footage, shown to the hearing room in London, does not capture the offence or Couzens’ face, just his arm reaching to the steering wheel.

Mr Taylor was told there was no need for witnesses to attend, but asked him to collect statements.

The recording of his 999 call was read to the panel, with the manager saying: “We have had an incident that happened about two weeks ago, basically what happened was, we have a drive through then a customer had driven round and when he was collecting food he flashed.

Wayne Couzens was jailed for the rape, murder and abduction of Sarah Everard

“He had his private parts out. At that moment we didn’t have his car details.

“We were just waiting for him to do it again so we could get his registration. We have his customer receipt, and his Mastercard details and it matches for the two.

“It happened again yesterday and we have his customer receipt. He did the same thing, on two different crew members, he drove towards with his penis out to the girls both times.

“It was on purpose, his trousers were fully down.”

PC Samantha Lee attended the restaurant on her own and in uniform on March 3 – three days after incident was reported and the day Couzens kidnapped Ms Everard as she was walking home to Brixton from a friend's home.

Mr Taylor said he showed footage to Lee, and told her he could burn the footage onto a USB stick, which is reportedly common practice at McDonald’s.

He said: “I remember going into my office in the back, that’s where we keep the CCTV and a screen where we can view it. The only times we burn is for the police or for insurance, we could just play it back ourselves.

“Only experiences managers know how to burn it.

Killer Wayne Couzens also faces charges of flashing at McDonald’s in Swanley back in 2021

“As managers we can access the record, but we can only access it for 28 days then it gets deleted.

“From what I remember I already had the receipts, then I had the CCTV, and explained I was not the one that saw the man but I was the one who gathered all the information.

“[The CCTV] was the best evidence I had, it showed the car, it showed the car coming round and it matched the time.”

Lee was first suspended from the Met after it was revealed that she had been posting raunchy pictures on her OnlyFans - titled "Officer Naughty", but she later resigned in response.

The ex-cop faces a seven day hearing at Palestra House, Southwark, south London, investigating whether she breached her duties and responsibilities and honesty and integrity by her failings with the murderer.

Couzens, who was an officer when he attacked Everard, is serving life for rape, abduction, and murder.

In March this year he was further charged with three counts of indecent exposure - two of which were at the McDonald’s in Swanley.

The hearing continues today.

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