South London police officer guilty of stalking ex-partner after break-up

A serving south London police officer has been found guilty of stalking his ex-partner. 

PC Benjamin Bunsell “couldn’t take no for an answer” and “bombarded” the woman with messages after they broke up. 

He was found guilty of one count of stalking without fear, alarm or distress on Tuesday, December 19. 

PC Bunsell’s relationship with his victim ended on June 22 and, over the next ten days, he called and sent “incessant” text and WhatsApp messages.

The woman asked him to stop multiple times but police say he continued “bombarding his former partner” with messages. 

She blocked PC Bunsell and changed her mobile number but he found her new number. 

He then called it from a withheld number during the early hours of the morning until she answered. 

From June 25, the victim started getting doorbell notifications in the middle of the night, the court heard.

She said she saw PC Bunsell walking past the front of her house and looking toward the property.

The victim reported PC Bunsell’s behaviour to police on July 3 and he was arrested the following day. He was rearrested on 28 July and charged the following day.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, responsible for policing where PC Bunsell is based, said: “PC Benjamin Bunsell was persistent, entitled and quite clearly could not take no for an answer. 

“Even when she changed her number, PC Bunsell still found her new number and continued his barrage of calls and messages all at times to cause maximum disturbance to the victim. PC Bunsell couldn’t stop at incessant calls and messages, he had to go to the victim’s house too.

“PC Bunsell has been held to account criminally and he will also be held to account via the Met’s own misconduct processes.”

Bunsell, of Greenwich, will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 18 January 2024.

Anyone with information about a police officer or member of staff who works for the Met and is corrupt, abusing their position and power, can call the Anti-Corruption and Abuse Hotline, run by the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 085 0000 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-org.uk.

https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/southwark/south-london-police-officer-guilty-of-stalking-ex-partner-after-break-up/