Investigating Couzens at the time could have stopped himpublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 6 March 2023

12:12 GMT 6 March 2023

Lucy Manning
Special Correspondent at the Old Bailey

Wayne Couzens is already spending the rest of his life in prison for the murder of Sarah Everard. So any extra time won’t make any difference as he will never be released.

But if only he had been arrested or sentenced for these crimes when he committed them in the days and years before Sarah’s murder.

Then, almost certainly, he wouldn’t have been a police officer any more - unable to use his authority, his warrant card and handcuffs to kidnap, rape and murder.

With a Kent Police officer and a Met Police officer being investigated for possible failures to look into the indecent exposure allegations, it suggests serious police failures.

For the Met it means not only did one of their own officers murder Sarah Everard, but their force failed to check Couzens’ number plate when he was reported for exposing himself in the days before, which could have stopped him.

Women still ask - when men do expose themselves - why they, as the victims, struggle so hard to have these crimes taken seriously.

For the Everard family, it must be devastating to know there was evidence the police held that Couzens was a serial sex offender before he murdered their daughter.

Sarah Everard’s rape and murder shocked the nation and rocked the faith of women in the police.

Everything that has been revealed since then has only reinforced that view.

If you are affected by issues raised in our coverage of this story, you can find details of organisations providing support at BBC Action Line.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

As Couzens was sentenced, he looked down, as he had done for much of the hearing.

Mrs Justice May sentences Couzens to 19 months' imprisonment.

She says this will not affect his whole-life term.

The judge then says all the offences are aggravated by fact he was a serving police officer, and also by the isolated location of the incident in Deal, and the late-night timings of the incidents at Mcdonald's.

She adds the only mitigation was guilty pleas.

The judge goes on to say that the victim personal statements read in court speak of the victims' "shock" over Couzens' "selfish and agressive" acts.

The victims have spoken about feeling like their freedom and security had been taken from them and one woman has spoken about experiencing "survivor's guilt", she says.

The judge continues to summarise some of the offences we heard about earlier this morning, starting with the flashing of a cyclist.

She says Couzens was masturbating as he exposed himself.

Mrs Justice May explains the three women who Couzens offended against are entitled to anonymity.

The anonymity stands for the rest of their lives unless they waive it.

The judge goes on to say that the sentence she passes today will not affect the whole-life term that Couzens already has.

The judge starts off by saying that the defendant is attending via video link.

The video is then cut for legal reasons.

The judge then continues to give a history of the proceedings.

Mrs Justice May is delivering her remarks and will then pass sentence.

This part of the hearing is televised and you can watch live at the top of the page by clicking the play button.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The court clerk is telling the court that the sentencing remarks will be recorded.

The judge is back in court.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The judge has now risen for a short time.

Mrs Justice May will return soon to court to begin her sentencing remarks and pass sentence.

You'll be able to watch this part.

There is a camera set up on the other side of the courtroom from where we are sitting.

The dock is empty.

That's because Couzens is on a video-link from HMP Frankland.

The sentence itself won't make a difference to him as he is already serving a whole-life term.

But it is hugely significant for his victims.

Jeremy Britton
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Mitigation has started by the defence barrister.

It was Couzens’ belief the relentless and unremitting publicity of the Sarah Everard case made a trial where identity was an issue impossible.

The barrister said any criticism of that argument was unfair.

The barrister says the sentence he receives today will make no difference to the time he has to serve.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The member of staff at McDonald's, where Couzens indecently exposed himself a second time at McDonald's, has broken down in tears from the witness box.

She is reading her victim personal statement.

She says she used to walk home after her shifts, but after what Couzens did she made sure she finished work at the same time as colleagues so she could walk back with them.

“I have started since this happened to take measures to keep myself safe such as taking public transport home.

“It should not be for me to have to take measures to keep myself safe. I should not have to be in fear of somebody attacking me and I should feel able to walk home while feeling safe.”

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

You might wonder why we aren't telling you the victims' names.

It's because we can't for legal reasons.

Anyone who is a victim of indecent exposure has an automatic right to legal anonymity.

They can if they wish waive that right.

Jeremy Britton
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The prosecutor then reads a statement from the second complainant, who worked at McDonald’s on 14 February 2021.

She says at the time her feeling was of shock. She was working a night shift as she needed to earn extra money.

She did not expect to bring out food and find a man exposing himself to her.

She says she remembered everything about the incident and even what his hands looked like.

She says she had fear for her colleagues and herself that they could be at risk from this person.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The prosecutor is reading a victim personal statement written by the complainant who encountered Couzens while she was cycling in Deal, in Kent.

She says he was masturbating "furiously" and that the “horror of what happened will remain with me for the rest of life”.

She talks about losing her ability to go outside “without fear".

The complainant says she is unable to cycle or walk alone as a result of what Couzens did.

Describing the offence as a “selfish, aggressive act”, she says it has had a “serious impact on the quality” of her life.

She says Couzens’ intention was to “cause distress and alarm”.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

We're now hearing about the impact Couzens' crimes had on his victims.

This is when Victim Personal Statements are heard.

They are a really important part of the sentencing process as they give victims the opportunity to tell the court how their life has been affected, while the offender listens.

The judge will also take Victim Personal Statements into consideration when reaching a sentence.

The statements aren't compulsory, but those who do provide one can read it themselves in court, or have the prosecutor read it on their behalf.

Sometimes a Victim Personal Statement isn't read out loud during a sentencing hearing, but the judge will have seen it.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Couzens was interviewed under caution on 5 August 2021 in relation to the McDonald's offences.

He made this prepared statement:

“I can confirm that I have visited the McDonald’s in Swanley referred to in these allegations on several occasions, usually after a night shift to get food on the way home.

I have visited both the restaurant and the drive-thru, particularly during the pandemic. However, I can confirm that I have never exposed [myself] on any of these occasions."