UKNIP247 
A serving Metropolitan Police officer, Pc Jake Cummings, is currently on trial at St Albans Crown Court, facing a series of serious charges including two counts of rape, three counts of stalking, three counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, and three counts of voyeurism. The charges involve three women from Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Dorset, with the alleged offences occurring between July 2019 and February this year.
Cummings, 25, from Hemel Hempstead, is accused of engaging in what the prosecution describes as “extensive controlling, coercive and manipulative behaviour,” demonstrating a belief that he was “above the law.” The prosecution, led by Tom Little KC, opened the trial on Tuesday, detailing how Cummings allegedly stalked one of the victims by pretending to be someone else on social media after she blocked him on Instagram.
Cummings, who joined the Metropolitan Police as a constable in November 2019 after serving as a special constable with Dorset Police in 2018, is said to have consistently carried his police warrant card, even when off duty, and occasionally “flashed it about,” according to the prosecutor.
The court heard that Cummings used phone applications such as Life 360 and Team Viewer to track one of the complainants, giving him what was described as a “pincer-type control and knowledge” over her movements. In just one month, there were reportedly over 5,000 communications between Cummings and the first complainant, with the majority of the contact being “very one-sided.”
The prosecutor also detailed how Cummings insulted and attempted to physically trip the second complainant, who had dyspraxia, in public, further exerting his control over her. The third complainant reported similar patterns of controlling behaviour.
The alleged offences are said to have involved women aged between 19 and 24 at the time, none of whom knew each other. Cummings has been suspended from his position within the Met’s central west command since the charges were brought against him.
Initially, Cummings was charged in April with rape, two counts of stalking, two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, and possession of an offensive weapon, which he denied. However, further charges were brought in June, leading to the current trial. Cummings has since pleaded guilty to two of the three stalking charges involving two of the complainants but denies the remaining nine charges.
The trial is expected to last for three weeks as the court examines the evidence against the officer and hears testimony from the complainants.
