Met officer jailed 16 years for campaign of rape, abuse and stalking against three women

A Metropolitan Police officer has been jailed for 16 years after a near five-year campaign of rape, abuse and stalking against three women, prosecutors said. Jake Cummings, 26, was a special constable in Dorset before he joined the Metropolitan Police, and his conduct spanned from July 2019 to February 2024. He was convicted of ten offences at St Albans Crown Court in Hertfordshire after a retrial, including three counts of coercive controlling behaviour, two counts of voyeurism and two counts of rape. He also admitted two counts of stalking and was found guilty of a third stalking count. The judge overseeing the case described his abuse as a pattern rather than impulsive acts.

The three victims, aged 19 to 24 at the time, lived in Dorset, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Jurors heard Cummings used location-tracking apps such as Life360 and TeamViewer to monitor them, created multiple social media accounts to message them, and sent thousands of messages, most from him. He would drive by their homes and kept the women under surveillance, using cameras and other tools to control their movements. He carried his warrant card at all times, including off duty, and sometimes flashed it to assert authority. His employment history included joining the Met in November 2019 after a spell as a Dorset special constable starting in 2018.

The offences occurred during a period spanning nearly five years and extended beyond the end of any relationship. The judge noted the volume of contact indicated a coordinated campaign rather than impulsive acts, describing the period of offending from July 2019 to February 2024 as a sustained abuse campaign. The jurors heard how one victim was kept under surveillance with security cameras, and the scale of coercive behaviour included repeated messaging and location tracking.

The investigation began when one victim reported concerns in February 2024. Media coverage following charges prompted a second victim to come forward, and investigators later identified a third through a review of Cummings’ mobile devices. The Hertfordshire Sexual Offences Investigation Team handled the initial inquiry before it was transferred to the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit due to the complexity. Cummings was dismissed from the Met after a disciplinary hearing found gross misconduct.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said the convictions demonstrate that the defendant thought he was above the law but that the justice system held him accountable. Detectives from the Major Crime Unit stressed that the victims’ bravery allowed authorities to pursue charges. Detective Inspector Dale Mepstead praised the victims and said the emotional impact would linger, while Detective Constable Ellie Cowling called Cummings a serious and predatory offender and affirmed that no one is above the law.

The case underscores ongoing concerns about abuse by individuals in trusted public roles and the need for continued support for victims. Authorities emphasized that reporting mechanisms remain essential and that justice systems will pursue accountability for rape, coercive control and related offences, regardless of the perpetrator’s position.