Des O’Connor’s daughter taking legal action against Met police for calling her 'hot'

Des O’Connor’s daughter is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police after the officer who probed her mugging called her ‘amazingly hot’.

Det Chief Insp James Mason, who later became a staff officer to commissioner Cressida Dick, told attack victim Kristina O’Connor he was as ‘determined in my pursuit of criminals as I am of beautiful women’.

The officer was found guilty of sexually motivated gross misconduct last year (2021) but still works for the Met and was commended for his handling of the Westminster Bridge terrorist attack.

Kristina, 33, has launched a judicial review challenging the way her complaint was handled which will heap more pressure on the commissioner who has presided over a series of sexism and misogyny scandals.

The London musician claims instead of investigating how several men had attacked her and left her with a black eye Mason quizzed her about her love life and asked her out.

One of five children of TV comic Des, who died two years ago aged 88, Kristina dialled 101 after being elbowed in the face trying to stop the mob on bikes stealing her phone near Sainsbury’s in Camden, north London, in 2011.

When she told investigating officer Mason she was then a croupier at the capital’s Playboy Club he asked if she wore a bunny outfit and had a boyfriend.

“It felt like a chat with someone that was trying to pick me up at the bar,’’ she said.

“I felt like I had to go along with it because he’s the police and it was only me and him in a room alone. I felt completely alone and isolated.’’

In emails sent from his official account the 43-year-old then-detective sergeant said he was as “determined in my pursuit of criminals as I am of beautiful women”, called her “amazingly hot”, invited her for a drink, said “coming on to victims is positively encouraged” and added: “It’s the rejection that’s frowned upon.’’

Her attacker was never caught.

Kristina has alleged Mason “used his position of power and authority as a policeman to abuse me” and his sexual harassment, which she reported in 2020, had led to her not contacting police at times when she felt unsafe.

“I still feel, as do many women, that I am just as likely to be harmed by the police officer that responds to my call as I am by a stranger on the street,’’ she said.

“By speaking out now I want to encourage more women to come forward about their negative experiences with the police.

“If what I have seen is the process by which the Met is held to account it is woefully inadequate, and something needs to change.’’

Kristina’s lawyer Caoilfhionn (corr) Gallagher QC said the misconduct investigation was flawed and Mason’s `discriminatory and predatory’ behaviour not adequately addressed.

“This is not about a few ‘bad apples’. This is about rotten trees and a rotten orchard,’’ she said.

“This case shows endemic, structural failures in how the force deals with discrimination against and harassment of women.

“Not only are women subjected to terrifying ordeals at the hands of abusive officers, but when they come forward to report gender-based harassment they will not be treated appropriately by the police.

She added: “We and our client hope that this case will lead to real, tangible change.’’

The Met has faced criticism since PC Wayne Couzens abducted, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, 33, last March.

Last month academic Dr Koshka Duff was paid compensation after she was strip-searched by Met officers, with others laughing as they said: “What’s that smell? Oh, it’s her knickers.’’

Last week the Independent Office for Police Conduct – aka IOPC (corr) – found officers at the Met’s Charing Cross branch joked in messages about rape, domestic violence and killing black children.

A spokesman for the Met, which has not yet filed a response to Kristina’s claim, said they “recognise there is a need for real change” in the force which was “committed to creating an environment that is intolerant to those who do not uphold the high values and standards expected of us”.

The IOPC said there was “serious public concern about abuse of position by police officers for the purposes of sexual gain which should be taken into account when assessing the degree to which confidence in policing may have been undermined and the appropriate sanction”.

In a letter to all 43,000 Met officers and staff Dame Cressida said the force’s public reputation had been damaged by too many instances of “poor conduct and nasty and inappropriate behaviour”, adding: “Enough is enough.’’

Warning prejudice, racism, homophobia and sexism would not be tolerated she added: “If this is you I have a message: the Met does not want you. Leave now.’’

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk