Met PC accused of tormenting ex-girlfriend after break up, court hears

  • Published
New Scotland Yard
Image caption,

Met Police officer PC Ben Bunsell has been suspended from duty while he faces a charge of stalking

A Metropolitan Police officer allegedly tormented his ex-girlfriend by persistently contacting her after they split up in the summer, a court heard.

PC Ben Bunsell, 40, is said to have sent more than 770 messages to Natalie Jundo after the pair split up in June.

City of London Magistrates' Court heard he also allegedly showed up at her home address in the summer.

PC Bunsell denies one count of stalking without fear, alarm or distress between 23 June and 28 July while off-duty.

The pair had an on-off relationship after first meeting in December 2021 via a dating website, prosecutor Jason Seetal said.

After their relationship ended in June, Ms Jundo told PC Bunsell to stop contacting her and blocked him on various messaging platforms, the court was told.

However, PC Bunsell continued to make contact through email and calls using unknown or withheld numbers, the prosecutor said.

Giving evidence, Ms Jundo told the court she felt "tormented".

"It was not just frustrating or stressful, it started getting scary," she said.

Ms Jundo's doorbell recorded someone walking twice past her front gate early on 30 June, which she believed was the defendant, the court heard.

She contacted the police on 3 July and PC Bunsell was arrested the next day - but he was not charged and was bailed with a condition not to contact her.

Felix Keating, defending, told the court PC Bunsell accepts sending some of the messages, but denies others, and what he does accept sending did not amount to stalking.

PC Bunsell, of Greenwich, has been suspended from duty and the Met Police said its Directorate of Professional Standards was aware.

The trial continues.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external

Related Internet Links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.