Former Met officer who worked with Wayne Couzens found guilty of rape

A former Metropolitan police officer who served in the same unit as Sarah Everard’s killer, Wayne Couzens, has been found guilty of sexual offences against a woman he met through his work as an officer.

A court heard that Mark Tyrrell raped the woman – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – by having sex with her after she repeatedly said no.

The 57-year-old was then said to have told her “I don’t believe what’s just happened” and “do you realise that what I’ve just done, that was rape?”

Tyrrell had been attached to the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, which is where the convicted rapists Couzens and David Carrick both worked.

He was convicted of one count of rape, three of sexual assault and one of perverting the course of justice after a trial at Southwark crown court.

Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC alleged that when the woman resisted Tyrrell’s sexual advances “he simply chose to take what he wanted”.

The court heard that concerns were raised after officers attended her address for a separate matter and found Tyrrell hiding by the side of her bed.

The former PC was found guilty of perverting the course of justice by attempting to delete messages with the woman.

In one message, the court was told he said he was “sorry” for “being a sex offender” and “for ruining your life by being in it”.

Jurors found him not guilty in relation to 13 other charges, including one count of rape.

In his evidence, Tyrrell claimed sexual intercourse between them was always consensual and “there was never any forcefulness to it”.

Ch Supt Sara Leach, commander within specialist operations, said: “This kind of conduct is abhorrent but even more so when it is carried out by a serving officer, who had gained the trust of the victim.

“We remain appalled that someone like this was serving within our organisation and it is right he has been brought to justice.”

Tyrrell previously admitted misconduct in a public office. He also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by persuading the woman to lie to the police about why he was in her bedroom.

The defendant, of Meltham, West Yorkshire, will be sentenced on 16 December.

Everard, 33, was kidnapped, raped and murdered by then Met officer Couzens in 2021. He was later given a whole-life order.

Carrick, 51, who previously served as an armed officer in the Met, is serving 37 life sentences after attacking more than a dozen women.

• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html