Five former Metropolitan Police officers have admitted sending grossly offensive racist messages, including about the Duchess of Sussex, on WhatsApp.
According to the charges, some of the messages shared in the chat also referenced the Prince and Princess of Wales, the late Queen and Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, as well as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, former home secretary Priti Patel and former health secretary Sajid Javid.
The charges, which relate to messages shared between September 2020 and 2022, come after a BBC Newsnight investigation in October last year that prompted a probe by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.
The five men entered guilty pleas at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon.
One of them, Robert Lewis, was a Home Office official before he was dismissed for gross misconduct last November, the Government department said.
The 62-year-old, of Camberley, Surrey, admitted eight counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages.
One of the messages he admitted sending was an image of Mr Sunak, Ms Patel and Mr Javid with a mock street sign that read: “Browning Street SW1”.
He retired from the Met in May 2015.
Peter Booth, 66, of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, pleaded guilty to four counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages, including a photo featuring the late Queen and Philip with a golliwog doll, accompanied by an offensive caption.
He retired from the Met in April 2001.
Anthony Elsom, 67, of Bournemouth, Dorset, pleaded guilty to three counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages.
He admitted sending a photo of William and Kate greeting young black children, with imposed speech bubbles containing racist remarks.
He retired from the Met in May 2012.
Alan Hall, 65, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, entered guilty pleas to three counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages, including a photo of Harry and Meghan with a reference to a racial slur.
He retired from the Met in June 2015.
And Trevor Lewton, 65, of Swansea, South Wales, pleaded guilty to one count of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the Met in August 2009.
The officers were charged by post with offences under the Communications Act 2003.
The five men were not serving at any point during their participation in the group, the Met made clear.
It added that they served in various parts of the Met throughout their careers and all spent time in what is now known as the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.
Another former Met officer, Michael Chadwell, denied one count of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the Met in November 2015.
The 62-year-old, from Liss, Hampshire, will stand trial on November 6 at the City of London Magistrates’ Court.
The other five will be sentenced on the same day and at the same court after the conclusion of Chadwell’s trial.
All six men have been granted unconditional bail in the mean time.
