Two constables and an ex-constable, all serving at the time, were charged with sending “grossly offensive messages”. The posts were discovered in a WhatsApp group called ‘Bottle and Stoppers/Atkin’s Puppets’ after Couzens was arrested for the kidnapping, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021. Prosecutor Edward Brown QC told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that the group included “racist, sexist, misogynist” messages, as well as those discussing rape, domestic abuse and violence against women. Two police officers on trial have spoken of “hugging” after one described pinning a 15-year-old girl to the floor during an incident and one suggested he would “rape and beat” a named female police officer. Other posts on the group appeared to joke about the prospect of leaving Muslims to die in a terrorist bombing and referred to racially diverse areas of London as “holes”. Others discussed using Tasers to torture animals and shoot people with Down syndrome. The messages that led to the charges were read in court on the first day of their trial on Thursday. Jonathan Cobban, 35, William Neville, 34, and Joel Borders, 45, have denied all charges and their trial continues. All three men were former Civilian Nuclear Police officers and were transferred to the Metropolitan Police on the same date – 11 February 2019. PC Cobban and Mr Borders are charged with five counts of sending grossly offensive messages, while PC Neville is charged with two counts of the same offence. PC Cobban and PC Neville remain with the Metropolitan Police, while Mr Borders has since left the force. Wayne Couzens was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping, rape and murder of Sarah Everard
June 21, 2019:
Anonymous Participant: Man, you’re not going to lose with your skill sets unless you [perform a sex act on] a DV [domestic violence] victim! Anonymous Participant: Oh Jon in that case you must be crazy. Jonathan Cobban: That’s okay, DV victims love it…that’s why they’re repeat victims most of the time. Joel Borders: No, they just don’t listen!
June 29, 2019:
Jonathan Cobban: I passed a bus [the West London district of] Hounslow…what a somalia hole. Large. There is p***y patrol… more like FGM [female genital mutilation] patrol. Joel Borders: [West London district] Feltham is worse! I went there the other week and it felt like a point in a domino! [Followed by a series of emojis showing one white face among several depicting Asian and black people of different races and religions] Anonymous Participant: Filthy Feltham. Jonathan Cobban: Walking in Hounslow Central [Tube station]it was like walking into a Dulux color code. Jonathan Cobban: The shops weren’t even in English. Joel Borders: Yes, all shades of brown!? Jonathan Cobban: Yeah and I think I was a yellow. But he got lost because he asked me for directions Joel Borders: Hounslow twinned with Baghdad Joel Borders: You know when the night shift is coming to an end in Hounslow because you can hear the call to prayer
August 9, 2019
Joel Borders: Lucky b******! I bet I get paired up with the only gay guy in the department! Jonathan Cobban: Oh yeah I dealt with one of them hospital guard for some attention seeking self harm f*g
August 9, 2019
Jonathan Cobban: That’s good mate. I hope to fight or something to prove myself. This week I’ve mostly been doing arrest inquiries and that sort of thing. Hospital guard. William Neville: That’s s***. My first shift was third shift, then I was an operator, where my first call was an ER, I pinned a 15-year-old girl crawling on the floor… I knew all the agony would come in handy at some point Jonathan Coban: Haha lilacs are always useful… good skills!
August 9, 2019
William Neville: Yes, I will try to chat with PaDP [Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection] guys at the American Embassy next week, they are very nice [sic] by coming out to talk to us, get an idea of what it’s really like Jonathan Cobban: Is it in your patch? William Neville: Yeah mate, it’s right on the edge of my patch. Jonathan Cobban: Ah quality. London’s largest mosque in our landmark! [Emoji of man in turban and book] William Neville: Haha! This is useful if you need to execute a warrant, you will know where they are Jonathan Cobban: It depends on the eod [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] availability [winky smiling face emoji] William Neville: 400 meters of string, no need to research Jonathan Cobban: Western region…it would still be our job [crying with laughter emoji]
April 5, 2019
Joel Borders: I can’t wait to get guns to shoot some faces! Jonathan Cobban: Me too. I want to taser a cat and a dog to see who reacts better. I think the cat will get more pissed and the dog will run away. I want to test this theory. The same with children. Zap zap you little groomsmen. Joel Borders: And some feathers? [prosecution alleges a reference to people with Down’s Syndrome]
April 25, 2019
Jonathan Cobban: At least you will have [named female police officer]. He will watch out for you lol [laugh out loud] Joel Borders: He’ll use me as an example. Lead me and shut me up when I rush her and hit her! Sneaky b***h.
