Cyclist flashed by Wayne Couzens while he was on duty gives impact statement as ... trends now

A female cyclist who was flashed by Wayne Couzens while he was on duty has recalled the 'horror' as he stood 'totally naked' in front of her in a woodland.

The former Met officer, 50, is being sentenced at the Old Bailey for three counts of indecent exposure prior to the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021.

He twice exposed himself in front of horrified staff at a McDonald's restaurant at the Swanley service station in February 2021 - including one incident just four days before Ms Everard's death.

Couzens also pleasured himself while 'totally naked' in front of a female cyclist in Deal, Kent, on November 13, 2020, approaching her on a narrow path. He was supposed to be working from home and was on duty at the time.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor Tom Little KC, the woman said the 'horror of what happened will remain with me for the rest of life'.

She said Couzens had engaged in a 'selfish, aggressive act' that has had a 'serious impact on the quality' of her life. 

The cyclist has been left unable to leave her home 'without fear' and is not able to exercise 'basic human needs'.

Couzens is appearing at the Old Bailey via video link from HMP Frankland in Durham, wearing a grey tracksuit top with a grey beard, to be sentenced for the three offences today.

Mr Little told the court that two of the incidents took place in a drive-in McDonald's at the Swanley service station in Kent in early 2021.

Couzens drove from his home in Deal to Lillie Road in Fulham, south west London, on  - where his Diplomatic Protection unit was based - on February 14.

He was not working, but entered into its offices before leaving a short time later. The reasoning for his visit, on Valentine's Day, 'remains entirely unexplained'.

Mr Little KC told the court: 'His journey is not dissimilar to that taken on the night he kidnapped Sarah Everard.'

On his way back to Kent, Couzens visited a McDonald's drive-thru and ordered a white coffee and double cheeseburger.

But as he approached the window to collect his order, he exposed himself to a member of staff. 

On February 27, four days before he kidnapped Ms Everard, Couzens again visited the McDonald's drive-thru after working a 12-hour shift.

He ordered a large white coffee, a bottle of orange juice, two double cheeseburgers and a medium-sized portion of fries before he was handed the drinks by a member of staff, who saw he had 'no pants on'.

Mr Little KC said Couzens had his 'trousers pulled down to his knees' and was 'shaking as if nervous'.

Police were contacted about the incident the same day and were told details of the vehicle matched that of the car involved in Couzens' visit 13 days earlier. 

But the police officer was not spoken to about the incident.

He was interviewed under caution on August 5, 2021, and gave detectives a prepared statement. 

Couzens admitted visiting the McDonald's on several occasions, but denied ever having exposed himself.