Wednesday 28 September 2022 02:59 PM Meghan and Harry: Bodyguard pictured with Sussexes is ex-Met officer convicted ... trends now

A bodyguard pictured with Prince Harry and Meghan is a former Met Police officer convicted of strangling his wife leaving her 'seconds away from death', MailOnline can reveal. 

Pere Daobry, 51, was pictured driving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in a Range Rover on September 5 as they left Frogmore cottage on their way to London’s Euston station. 

Despite his important role protecting the high-profile couple Daobry was convicted at Colchester Magistrates Court in September 2016 of attacking his wife, Sarah Jay, a former Essex Police sergeant, after she declared that she no longer loved him. 

The 6ft 7in bodybuilder only escaped imprisonment because he called 999 and confessed to his crime - while his wife later committed suicide after describing him as a 'lunatic'. 

The revelation will raise eyebrows as Meghan has long championed women's rights - especially gender-based violence. 

During the couple's tour to South Africa in 2019 Meghan said in an ActionAid speech that men and boys should be held accountable for their actions. 

A source said: 'When you consider how outspoken Meghan is on women's issues it's quite amazing that a bodyguard with that sort of background has been employed. 

'His wife Sarah went through a really traumatic time with him and I'm sure if Meghan and Harry knew the full story they wouldn't be at all comfortable with him being employed as their bodyguard.

'It was such a shock when I saw the picture and recognised Pere instantly - he is quite tall and distinctive and he has significant scarring on his face so he's quite recognisable. 

'Pere treated Sarah appallingly and she had to escape through a window twice to get away from him. I really don't think Harry and Meghan would want someone like him guarding them.' 

In a traumatic interview after his conviction, Mrs Jay said: 'I suffered at the hands of this lunatic for two years. I am devastated he isn't behind bars. He deserves to be.

'For any man to do this is terrible - for a policeman to do what he did is outrageous. He nearly killed me. All he got is a slap on the wrists. What deterrent is that for other men ?'

She added:' When I met him I was a strong, confident, capable woman. I could never have imagine being a victim of domestic violence. I was terrified, isolated and had no one to turn to.'

Mrs Jay - who had a daughter through a previous relationship when she met him -then chillingly revealed: 'I was only seconds away from death - that terrifies me.'

Recalling the incident in December 2015, which started after a row in their bedroom, she said: 'I suggested he go to the gym to calm down and moved away to get away from him.

'He grabbed me. The next thing I remember was being on my back. I was struggling to breathe. I could feel his rage. He had his hands around my neck and was choking me.

'All I could concentrate on was staying alive. I was gasping for breath but couldn't get any in. I realised I had to lay still, not struggle and breathe through my nose. Tryting to do that was the last thing I remember.'

At his trial Colchester Magistrates' Court heard how the ex-officer, who worked for the Met for 12 years, told the 999-call handler: 'I want to report an assault and I am the perpetrator. I have assaulted my wife.' 

When asked by the operator if his wife needed an ambulance, the dad-of-four responded: 'Yeah, I tried to strangle her.' In the attack Mrs Jay also suffered scratches and pain to her neck, scratches on her back and swelling on her forehead.

News of Daobry’s conviction will come as an embarrassment to Harry and Meghan who have

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