Tuesday, 8 November 2022

PC v WPC: Officer Accused Of Racist WhatsApp Messages

A serving Metropolitan policeman accused of sending racist WhatsApp messages, will claim his fellow officer ex-girlfriend has framed him during their acrimonious split, a court heard today.

PC Thomas Phillips, 33, who serves in the force’s intelligence unit faces five charges of sending offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing messages last year.


The officer, who lives in an £800,000 detached house in private Simone Drive, Kenley, Croydon is due to stand trial on January 24, next year.


He is charged with sending a message by means of a public electronic communications network on April 8; May 1; May 8 and twice on April 20.


PC Phillips originally appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on September 2, when he pleaded not guilty to all five charges.


At today’s case management hearing his lawyer Colin Banham told the court: “There is lots of background in this case,” confirming PC Phillips’ unnamed ex is now dating another police officer.


They both complained when the allegation was originally dropped as no further action, the lawyer told the court.


“This is a Malicious Communications Act case where the defendant is a serving Metropolitan Police Officer.


“The complainant and her boyfriend are both serving Metropolitan Police Officers.


“The defendant says the complainant in the breakdown of their relationship has got together with another man and is using this case to get favourable terms as to how the house is split.


“This defendant says he has not sent these messages and the complainant has sent the messages to gain leverage.”


The court heard the defence claim PC Phillips’ ex used a web-based site to create the messages on his phone.


Expert witnesses are expected to give evidence during the trial regarding the technical aspects of the case.


There will be a second case management hearing on November 18.

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