The Met police officer faces jail time after stalking his ex-girlfriend on security cameras

A Metropolitan Police officer who followed his ex-partner with surveillance cameras after their relationship ended faces a possible prison sentence.

PC Jonathan Simon, 44, sent the woman unsolicited messages with withheld numbers and suggested she become a sex worker, a court has been told.

Simon, from Colchester in Essex, met the woman when he was called to her address following a neighbor dispute on May 17, 2021 – before they got “intimate” that evening.

A relationship began, but the woman ended it because she thought Simon only wanted her for sex, the court heard.

Simon then watched his victim on CCTV as she picked up her children from school, showed up uninvited at their address, and went to her home with his colleague. He denied, but was convicted of stalking.

PC Jonathan Simon goes before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 6 last year

Prosecutor Harry MacDonald told Westminster Magistrates’ Court: “The officer was in a position of trust as a responder and investigator. This defendant then fabricated reasons to return to the victim’s address later in the day. He did this twice and was alone.

“His last visit was late in the evening and he was let in by the victim. They first discussed her complaint before discussing her feelings more generally, where she confided in the defendant about her needs and difficulties.

“Then he offered her a massage [to relax her] and they then got intimate that night.’

Testifying from behind a screen, the woman told the court: “I didn’t know what kind of person he was. I think being a cop meant I was a little less guarded.

“In the beginning he was very kind, and then I started to understand what kind of man he is. I noticed it over time [the relationship] was just sex for him and I started to worry about my kids.

In the fall of 2021, she ran into financial difficulties when her car needed repairs and she turned to Simon for advice.

The woman said Simon encouraged her to take up sex work to improve her financial situation.

She told the court: “He told me to offer myself to prostitution. He told me how to do it, where to go, how long it would take me to buy a brand new car… so those are all factors that contributed to my worrying about what kind man he is.”

Mr Macdonald asked: “What action, if any, did you take to end the sexual relationship?”

Simon denied but was convicted of stalking at Westminster Magistrates’ Court (file picture)

She replied: “I participated, and [I realised] what kind of person he is. I tried to get away but he was very persistent. I felt like he was trying to take advantage of my emotional state… but I couldn’t [carry on] I was sick.

“I was physically ill … and I decided I was like, ‘No, I’ve had enough’ … so I decided to block him for everything.”

“You pointed out that he was watching you on surveillance TV, can you just tell the court?” asked the prosecutor.

She replied: “I remember it was after school, I picked up my kids at my usual stop and parked there. He texted me that he can see me. I thought he drove by because I couldn’t see anyone there.

‘He also said he could see me from the security camera up the road. He texted me and said, “why is it taking so long, what are you doing?”

“He was very persistent and controlling, he kept trying [contact me with] private numbers so I would answer the calls.’

Simon then turned up at the victim’s address uninvited one evening and texted the victim to say he was out. She sent a message back saying she wasn’t feeling well.

“I was afraid to open the door in case he broke through and I couldn’t escape him,” she said.

“I just wanted to be nice. He tried to get to me again and the way he spoke he was asking me to “keep him warm” which I think meant he wanted to get intimate again.

In January 2022, Simon visited the victim’s address with a colleague.

“The colleague rang the doorbell for the victim to answer the door, then Simon said he needed to speak to the victim,” Mr MacDonald said. “She remembers part of the conversation where he started cupping her face in a way that made her uncomfortable.

“Between May and June 2022, the victim recalls that the defendant came to her speech unprompted and found a reason to speak to her.

“Once prosecutors said he entered her personal space to hug her, she didn’t want to hug him, but it was an awkward situation and she felt trapped and went with it.

“Prosecutors say the defendant then grabbed her butt and said, ‘I missed that.’

Simon was arrested on July 4 when he came into work at the start of his shift and said, “What the hell”.

He joined the police force as a special constable in 2010 before becoming an officer in 2013.

District Judge Daniel Sternberg found the officer guilty of stalking and harassment.

He said: “It is true that you participated on a criminal basis early in your relationship, but as far as the data is in the indictment I do not believe any of your actions took place under reasonable circumstances.

“I am sure you have engaged in conduct that amounted to harassment of the complainant.

“I am certain that your conduct amounted to stalking…these acts included personally contacting the applicant on January 18, 2022…and in early June 2022 and on July 1, 2022 when you were loitering outside her address.”

“I am sure that by January 18, 2022 at the latest, you knew or should have known that your behavior constituted harassment.

“If you hadn’t done it, no other officer would have attended the address with you on January 18, that’s compelling evidence.

“I believe that the prosecution has proved their case on the basis of this decision. I therefore find you guilty of these charges.”

Simon denied but was convicted of stalking. He was released on bail on April 4 before sentencing.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, in charge of policing at the East Area Command Unit, said: “PC Simon’s conduct was unwarranted, undesirable and caused significant concern to the victim.

“Our officers cannot behave in this way and we will proactively identify and take affirmative action against those who do.

“Despite repeated calls to stop it, he subjected the victim to a campaign of harassment that caused her considerable distress. He abused his position as a police officer and has now been rightly convicted.”

Simon remains suspended from duty and a misconduct hearing will now take place as soon as possible.