Met Police officer jailed for abusing wife
A former Met Police officer has been sentenced to two years and three months in jail for abusing his wife, with the court hearing that the abuse "escalated" after he joined the force.
During his time as a serving officer, PC Isaque Rodrigues-Leite subjected his wife to various forms of abuse, including trapping her in a caravan and a bedroom, hitting her with a car, and threatening her with a knife. The trial revealed that during arguments, he would assert his authority as a police officer by telling her, "no one will believe you because I am a police officer."
Rodrigues-Leite was found guilty of four counts of false imprisonment, two counts of common assault, one count of criminal damage, and one count of coercive control in November last year. The court heard that the abuse intensified in the months following Rodrigues-Leite's joining of the Met in March 2019.
Recorder Daniel Dyal, presiding over the case at Croydon Crown Court, noted a "major escalation" in Rodrigues-Leite's abusive behavior between March and July of that year. The victim described the early years of their relationship as "toxic," with the abuse worsening after Rodrigues-Leite's affiliation with the Met.
In one instance, Rodrigues-Leite trapped the victim in a caravan after she discovered messages indicating infidelity. He later barricaded her in their bedroom, physically preventing her from leaving after she confronted him about paying for sex. Additionally, he threatened her during fights and once accelerated a car towards her, forcing her to jump on the bonnet to avoid being hit.
During the trial, the victim expressed her fear of Rodrigues-Leite's colleagues in law enforcement, stating that she felt ashamed for being abused by her husband, a police officer. She hoped that speaking out about her experience would prevent others from enduring similar situations.
Det Sup Christina Jessah, from Roads and Transport Policing where Rodrigues-Leite was stationed, condemned his actions as "abhorrent" and emphasized the Met's commitment to rooting out such behavior among its officers.
Following the trial, Rodrigues-Leite was acquitted of two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of making a threat to kill. In December of the previous year, he was dismissed from the force by a misconduct panel and prohibited from rejoining.
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