Policewomen sue Met for £2m over 'sex pest' officers
TWO women police constables are suing the Met for £1million each over sexual harassment allegations against three male officers.
Julie Facey and Paula Church launched the legal battle against the force after claiming they were pestered for sex and sexually assaulted in a two-year ordeal.
They are also suing the three officers at the centre of the claims, who were based at Hornchurch and other police stations in the Romford area.
The Pcs claim that police chiefs pressurised them into agreeing not to bring criminal charges. They say they were ostracised and victimised and their careers halted after senior management failed to help.
The women accused Pc Paul Leggatt, Pc Jason Bell and Sgt Ron Prado at Stratford Employment Tribunal of unseemly sexual behaviour.
In legal papers, Pc Facey, 33, of Stanford-le-Hope, said Pc Leggatt pulled down his trousers and asked her to perform a sex act on him as he drove a patrol car. She accused him of pestering her for sex and pleasuring himself as she sat next to him in the car, while Pc Church, 35, also accused Pc Leggatt of groping her three times.
Pc Church, from Shoeburyness, Essex, said Pc Bell stalked her, kissed her against her will, quizzed her about her underwear and suggested sexual forfeits. He allegedly threatened to kill her if she went out with anyone, daubed messages on her car outside her home and bombarded her with texts and a poem about death. She said: "His conduct was very odd and concerning."
Sgt Prado is accused of calling Pc Facey a "fit bird" and making obscene comments about her. She said that in September last year Sgt Prado, who is married, played with her hair, held her face, stroked her neck and arm and kept trying to hold her hand, saying: "You're so cute. You're such a babe." He allegedly told her: "Until I get another fit bird on the team, you're not going anywhere. I need a reason to come in every day."
The two women, who both earn more than £30,000 a year, complained about Pc Leggatt in March last year but said they reluctantly agreed not to press criminal charges because they were falsely told that others were unwilling to give evidence. He was sacked in November last year.
Pc Church, an officer for 16 years, said: "Pc Leggatt and Pc Bell should have faced criminal charges and other officers should have been sacked but there was a cover-up."
Pc Facey said: "I was being ostracised and victimised. My career was going nowhere and senior management did nothing effective to support me." Her husband, also a Pc, received anonymous text messages saying she had been having affairs.
The Met and the accused officers strongly deny the claims of sex discrimination. The case is due to be heard later this year.
