A Metropolitan Police officer who ‘thought he was above the regulation’ has been jailed for a vile marketing campaign of abuse which included the rapes of two ladies.
Jake Cummings was a particular constable in Dorset after which a police officer in London when he carried out ‘intensive controlling, coercive behaviour’ towards three girl over a close to five-year interval.
The 26-year-old bombarded them with messages and remoted them from associates, household and colleagues.
Jurors heard there was additional degradation and humiliation of the ladies he raped, who suffered extreme psychological hurt.
Cummings was jailed for a complete of 16 years for ten offences immediately at St Albans Crown Courtroom in Hertfordshire.
He had been discovered responsible beforehand by a jury of three counts of coercive controlling behaviour, two counts of voyeurism and two counts of rape at a retrial.
The disgraced officer additionally admitted two counts of stalking and was discovered responsible by a jury of a 3rd rely of the identical offence.
Choose Bilal Siddique instructed the defendant, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, he had deployed a ‘strikingly comparable sample of abuse’ towards his victims.
Jake Cummings, 26, was a particular constable in Dorset after which a police constable in London when he carried out ‘intensive controlling, coercive behaviour’ towards three girl which over a close to five-year interval
This was ‘something however impulsive offending’, the choose added, saying: ‘The interval of offending – it was almost 5 years starting in July 2019 to February 2024 – can solely be described as nothing aside from a marketing campaign of abuse.’
Choose Siddique famous ‘the sheer quantity of contact’ meant some if it ‘should have taken place throughout your shifts as a serving police officer’.
Footage launched by police exhibits Cummings surrounded by officers as he was arrested in mattress at his house within the early hours of February 24 final 12 months.
After he was allowed to decorate, he might be seen wringing his fingers nervously in his lounge earlier than he was led to a van to be pushed to a police station, the place he denied any wrongdoing in interviews by fellow officers.
Throughout Cummings’ first trial, Met officer Zak Russell instructed the courtroom: ‘I recall on shifts that he could be continuously on his telephone and could be messaging somebody in any respect hours.’
Opening the trial, prosecutor Tom Little KC instructed jurors the defendant had proven ‘extreme controlling, coercive and manipulative behaviour’ as he ‘thought he was above the regulation’.
This could stick with it even after relationships had ended, jurors heard.
The defendant was taken on as a particular constable in Dorset from 2018 and joined the Met as a PC in November the next 12 months when he moved to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.
Choose Bilal Siddique instructed the defendant, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, he had deployed a ‘strikingly comparable sample of abuse’ towards his victims
Mr Little stated he at all times carried his warrant card, even when off obligation, and would ‘flash it about’.
Every of Cummings’ three victims, who had been aged between 19 and 24 and got here from Dorset, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, detailed harrowing tales of harassment and coercive management, with certainly one of them stored beneath watch utilizing safety cameras.
Jurors heard that he used telephone apps referred to as Life360 and Staff Viewer to trace the primary complainant’s location, giving him ‘pincer-like management and data’.
He additionally created a number of social media accounts to message her – with over 5,000 messages between them, most from Cummings – and he would drive down the street the place she lived.
Detectives started their investigation when certainly one of Cummings’ victims made a report in February 2024.
The media consideration that adopted after he was charged led to a second sufferer coming ahead later that month.
Officers recognized a 3rd sufferer after going by Cummings’ cell phone weeks later.
The case was initially taken by Hertfordshire’s Sexual Offences Investigation Staff, earlier than being transferred to the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Main Crime Unit as a result of complicated circumstances.
Cummings was sacked from the Met after a disciplinary listening to discovered he had dedicated gross misconduct.
After sentencing, Neil Vaughan, of the Crown Prosecution Service, stated: ‘Jake Cummings thought that he was above the regulation however his convictions show in any other case.
‘These ladies didn’t know each other however collectively they painted a compelling image which laid naked the vile sample of abuse inflicted by Cummings.’
He stated the CPS had labored carefully with Hertfordshire Constabulary after the ‘complicated investigation’, including: ‘We hope his convictions reiterate the clear message that the CPS will relentlessly pursue justice for victims of rape and severe sexual offences.’
Detective Inspector Dale Mepstead, from the Main Crime Unit, stated: ‘The emotional influence of Cummings’ offending will reside together with his victims for a few years however it’s by their courageous testimony that he has lastly been delivered to justice.’
Detective Constable Ellie Cowling, from the Sexual Offences Investigation Staff, described Cummings as a ‘severe and predatory offender’.
She stated: ‘No-one is past the regulation and we’ll at all times take motion when allegations are made.’
