
Ex-Metropolitan Police officer from Stevenage guilty of rape
James Thacker KC, leading the prosecution team, told the trial that one woman said she was raped in 2021 and the other in 2024.Cummings has been found guilty of the 2024 charge. Jurors are due to continue discussing the other charge on Thursday.One of the women said she was raped while still in a relationship with Cummings. The other said she was raped shortly after their relationship ended.The two women lived in different parts of the country and did not know each other, Mr Thacker told the trial.He said Cummings had been arrested at his mother's home in Weymouth, Dorset.
Cummings denied both rape charges and said the sex was consensual.Campaspe Lloyd-Jacob, his barrister, told jurors that they could not be sure he was guilty of rape.Miss Lloyd-Jacob said the question was whether Cummings "could not reasonably have believed" that the women were consenting.
Cummings has already been convicted of committing other offences against the two women, jurors have heard.He was found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour in an earlier trial and has admitted stalking.Jurors in an earlier trial failed to reach verdicts on the rape charges and, as a result, this trial was held.Cummings served as a special constable in Dorset from April 2018 before joining the Met as a regular officer in November 2019. He is no longer an officer.
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Drunk teenagers returned to US after using fake ID to buy alcohol and ‘running amok' on flight
A group of US teenagers were arrested after 'screaming and running amok' on a recent Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles to London. The nine teenagers reportedly used fake identification to purchase alcohol, before consuming it once airborne on flight VS008 on Monday 14 July. Alarmed passengers and crew were subjected to antisocial and disruptive behaviour, prompting pilots to radio ahead to London to alert local police who attended the scene upon the plane's arrival at Heathrow Airport. Law enforcement arrested the youths, who were taken into custody where mugshots and fingerprints were reportedly taken. Officials also revoked their Electronic Travel Authorisations – the travel document required by all international travellers for entry to the UK. The teenagers are believed to have been travelling to summer camps across Europe and are reportedly from wealthy families. According to The Sun, Virgin Atlantic initially refused to fly the teenagers back after the incident, but later relented – reportedly taking 'revenge' by separating the teenagers and transporting them back to different cities across the US and informing their parents, some of whom are alleged to be celebrity sports stars. The Metropolitan Police confirmed to The Independent that nine individuals – 'aged 17 and 18' – were arrested at Heathrow Airport after disembarking the flight. 'All were arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with crew directions and endangering aircraft. 'They were taken into custody and were released without charge.' A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic told The Independent: 'We'd like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused following the arrival of the VS008 at London Heathrow on 14 July, due to disruptive passengers being apprehended by the authorities. 'This is now a matter for the police, and we are unable to comment any further. 'The safety and welfare of our people and our customers is always our top priority." According to the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA), 'unruly passengers threaten the safety of 1,000 flights a year', averaging almost three every day. Many incidents involve alcohol as a contributory factor.


The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Six arrested after ‘thuggery' outside Essex hotel ‘housing asylum seekers'
Six people have been arrested after another protest escalated 'into mindless thuggery', police said, outside an Essex hotel believed to house asylum seekers. More than 100 demonstrators assembled outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Sunday evening, with some chanting 'save our kids'. Essex Police said six people were arrested that evening and remain in custody, including a 17-year-old male on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a police car. Four were arrested on Sunday for alleged offences during Thursday's protest, police said. A 16-year-old male from south London was arrested on suspicion of going equipped to cause criminal damage, it added At 10.15pm, Essex Police said: 'There were angry and violent scenes when a woman walked through the crowds. 'Missiles were thrown at her and a number of individuals were shouting abuse and trying to reach the woman. 'Our officers walked alongside her until she left the scene in order to keep everyone on all sides safe and ensure no-one was hurt.' It added: 'An officer from Norfolk was struck in the face by a bottle and taken to hospital.' A Section 35 dispersal order was put in place 'to prevent further crime or anti-social behaviour', and a Section 60AA was activated to give officers the power to make 'any individuals' remove their 'face coverings and balaclavas'. Epping High Road was closed for 'a number of hours' after people gathered there. Police said 'all protesters have now been dispersed' at 11.15pm. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which begun peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle. 'For anyone who thinks we will tolerate their thuggery – think again.' Some set off flares in blue and red, while others held signs which read 'deport foreign criminals', 'we go home when they go back' and 'defend our girls'. Bottles and smoke flares were later thrown towards police vans blocking the entrance to the hotel on the High Road. This came as a man was charged with violent disorder and criminal damage on Sunday afternoon following previous clashes outside the hotel. Eight police officers were injured after what started as a peaceful protest on Thursday evening. Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive, Loughton, was arrested on Saturday, Essex Police said. The force said on Sunday that the CPS had authorised police to charge Silk with one count of violent disorder and one count of criminal damage. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday. Thursday's demonstration was one of a series of protests outside the hotel since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault after an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Chief Superintendent Anslow said: 'Individuals who thought that after last Thursday, turned up this evening only to find themselves getting arrested (sic) and we have continued to arrest others throughout the evening.' He added: 'I would also like to set the record straight around misinformation that Essex Police is anything other than impartial. 'We don't take sides, we arrest criminals and we have a duty to ensure no-one is hurt – plain and simple. 'I know the people of Essex know what we're about so I know they won't believe the rubbish circulating online that is designed to do nothing more than inflame tensions and trouble. 'I think I speak for all of us – including the people of Epping – when I say we've had enough of your criminality. 'But our cells, which have been filling up throughout the evening, are ready for you, so don't be in any doubt that this is where you will be sleeping.'


Telegraph
28 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Mikel Arteta defends Arsenal stance after Thomas Partey rape charges
Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal's handling of Thomas Partey after the midfielder was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Partey, 31, was charged on July 4 over incidents involving three different women. The alleged offences date back to incidents said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. He denies all charges. Two counts of rape relate to one complainant, three further counts of rape to a second, while the sexual assault charge is connected to a third woman. Partey left Arsenal when his contract expired on June 30, four days before the charges were announced. The timing is in no way connected. Despite growing pressure for the club to explain its handling of the matter, Arsenal have so far declined to comment in detail, citing ongoing legal proceedings. Speaking in Singapore at the start of Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia, Arteta was asked directly about the club's response. 'The club was very clear in its statement,' he said. 'There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated so I cannot comment on any of that.' He was then asked: 'A lot of fans have questions over the way in which the matter was handled by the club. Do you feel confident and comfortable that the club followed all the right processes in that?' He responded: '100 per cent, yes.' Although Arsenal's brief statement confirmed awareness of the charges, it did not address Partey's playing status in the two years since police began their investigations. The lack of public explanation has sparked concern among fans. Faduma Hassan, a member of protest group Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence, told Telegraph Sport said she was 'horrified and heartbroken' by the club's handling of the matter. Partey continued to play for Arsenal throughout the period in which the alleged offences were said to have occurred and during the police investigation. His final appearance for the club came in the last match of the 2024-25 season. Complaints about Partey were raised with the Football Association, Arsenal and the Premier League 10 months before he was arrested by police. No formal investigation was launched into the claims, however, because they fell outside the FA's safeguarding remit for minors and adults 'at risk' within the game. Football's powerlessness to pursue such complaints can be detailed after the Culture Secretary urged the game to establish 'minimum standards' to 'protect women'. Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, intervened has expressed concern that clubs do not have a 'standard approach' when 'very, very highly paid' players face claims of sexual assault.