Ex-Met Officer Convicted of Rape in Unit Linked to Couzens and Carrick

A former Metropolitan police officer has been convicted of sexual offences committed against a woman he met through his professional duties.

Mark Tyrrell, 57, served in the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, the same unit as convicted rapists Wayne Couzens and David Carrick. He was found guilty of one count of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of perverting the course of justice. The trial took place at Southwark crown court.

The court heard that Tyrrell raped the victim, who remains anonymous for legal reasons, after she repeatedly said no. He later told her, "I don’t believe what’s just happened" and asked if she realized what he had done was rape. Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC stated that when the woman resisted his advances, "he simply chose to take what he wanted." Tyrrell claimed the intercourse was always consensual and that "there was never any forcefulness to it."

Officers discovered Tyrrell hiding beside the victim's bed while attending her address for a separate matter. He was found guilty of perverting the course of justice for attempting to delete messages with the woman. In one text, he wrote he was "sorry" for "being a sex offender" and "for ruining your life by being in it." He had previously admitted misconduct in a public office and pleaded guilty to persuading the woman to lie about why he was in her bedroom.

Jurors acquitted Tyrrell on 13 other charges, which included an additional count of rape. Ch Supt Sara Leach, commander within specialist operations, described the conduct as abhorrent, particularly because a serving officer had gained the victim's trust. She stated, "We remain appalled that someone like this was serving within our organisation and it is right he has been brought to justice."

The defendant, from Meltham in West Yorkshire, is scheduled for sentencing on 16 December. This case follows the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard by Couzens, who received a whole-life order. Carrick, 51, is currently serving 37 life sentences for attacking more than a dozen women.