A volunteer with the Metropolitan Police, now identifying as a woman, has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a child. Gwyn Samuels, formerly known as James Bubb, groomed one of the victims online and then sexually assaulted her when she was only 12 years old. The defendant was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting the young girl and also of raping another woman, whom Samuels met online while posing as a 16-year-old girl.
Following a trial last summer, Samuels was sentenced to 32 years in total, including 24 years of imprisonment and an additional eight years on extended licence, at Aylesbury Crown Court. Judge Jonathan Cooper, during sentencing, condemned the defendant for betraying the trust of the victims through systematic grooming and abuse that aimed to break their will.
Throughout the trial, Samuels was referred to by their biological sex, but the judge ruled that since transitioning, the defendant should be addressed by the new identity of Gwyn Samuels. The trial revealed that the officer sexually assaulted the girl in public just before her 13th birthday and was violent towards her, including choking and punching her.
Samuels met the first victim on a chat roulette site in 2018 and later at a Christian festival. The victim described feeling hidden and controlled by Samuels, who also boasted about their authority as a special constable with the Metropolitan Police. The court heard that Samuels raped the second victim, an 18-year-old woman, during an on-off relationship lasting from January 2018 to February 2023.
In relation to the first victim, Samuels was convicted of various charges including rape, sexual activity with a child, and assault. The offenses took place between January 2018 and April 2024. The judge emphasized that Samuels, considered a significant risk to women, will remain in a male prison due to their criminal behavior, not their gender identity.
Samuels was also issued a lifelong sexual harm prevention order forbidding contact with young women. The judge acknowledged the survivors’ strength and resilience, highlighting the importance of their voices in seeking justice. The prosecution emphasized that offenders exploiting vulnerability will be prosecuted, with gratitude to the victims for their courage and support during the case.
Detective Sergeant Kirsty Pendle praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward and encouraged anyone with further information on Samuels’s activities to contact the police.