Ex-Met special constable jailed for raping child

A former Metropolitan Police special constable who raped and sexually assaulted a child has been jailed for 24 years.

The 28-year-old from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, was also found guilty of raping a young woman he met online while posing as a 16-year-old girl.

The former special constable was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday to a total of 32 years, made up of 24 years' imprisonment and a further eight years on extended licence.

The 28-year-old identified as male at the time of the offences and was referred to by male pronouns throughout the trial at Amersham Law Courts.

During sentencing, Judge Jonathan Cooper said that since the defendant had transitioned, they should be known by their new identity of Gwyn Samuels.

In relation to the first victim, Samuels was found guilty of one count of raping a child under 13, one count of sexual activity with a child, one count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, and one count of assault by penetration.

The defendant was found not guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual activity with a child in relation to that complainant, and found guilty of one count of rape against the second victim.

Judge Cooper said Samuels "abused the most intimate trust of your victims" in "a campaign of abuse against each that was intended to break their will entirely".

Samuels met their first victim on chat site Omegle in 2018, before meeting in person a few months later at a Christian festival.

Jurors heard the officer sexually assaulted the girl in public shortly before her 13th birthday.

The trial was told Samuels was violent towards her and raped and sexually abused her when she was in her early teens - with the victim telling police Samuels choked and punched her.

The girl said Samuels looked "paranoid" when they were in public together and she felt like she was being "hidden".

When at the Christian festival, her colour-coded child wristband was clearly on show, she told police.

Samuels' first victim also said the defendant spoke "a lot about the powers he had" in their role with the Met as a special constable.

The court heard the officer raped the second victim, a woman who had just turned 18 when they met, while they were in an on-off relationship between January 2018 and February 2023.

All charges took place between 1 January 2018 and 2 April 2024.

Samuels began to volunteer with the Met Police Central West team as a special constable in September 2020.

The force said Samuels was suspended immediately after being arrested by Thames Valley Police on 30 April 2024.

Samuels previously worked as a theatre technician at Harrow School, London, from 2018 to 2024.

The school said Samuels' contract was terminated once it was alerted of their arrest by the authorities.

The judge said he understood the defendant, who has been held in a male prison estate while in custody, would remain there.

"The key point is that you are a very significant risk to women," Judge Cooper said.

"This is not predicated on your trans status, but on your criminal status."

Samuels was also made the subject of a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, which banned them from contacting young women.

Det Sgt Kirsty Pendle, from Thames Valley Police, said: "I want to pay tribute to the incredible courage and strength shown by both victims in coming forward and supporting this investigation through to court proceedings.

"Their bravery has been vital in bringing this offender to justice.

"We keep an open mind as to whether Gwyn Samuels, formerly known as James Bubb, has committed any other offences.

"If you have any information about this defendant, please contact us quoting Operation Aspect."