Former PC David Wager barred after misconduct panel finds predatory abuse of vulnerable woman

A former Metropolitan Police constable has been barred from policing after a misconduct panel found he exploited a vulnerable woman during a mental health crisis in Bexleyheath. The panel concluded in March 2025 that David Wager, who resigned before the ruling, would have been dismissed without notice had he still been serving.

The case centred on events in September 2016, when Wager attended a call in Bexleyheath alongside a colleague. Ambulance crews had requested police support after a family member overdosed, and Ms A, the woman at the centre of the allegations, was intoxicated and in severe distress. Wager accompanied her to Darent Valley Hospital, where she later alleged he sexually assaulted her.

Allegations of assault and inappropriate contact

Ms A told investigators that while in the hospital’s A&E department, Wager put his hand down her bra and touched her breast for around two seconds. She said he asked if she had undergone breast surgery. Though she acknowledged being disoriented, she insisted the incident occurred and described it as a sexual assault.

Weeks later, Wager returned to Ms A’s home in uniform for a welfare check, according to her account. She said he sent her a Facebook friend request shortly afterwards, and over the following fortnight, they exchanged more than 300 messages. Ms A alleged they had sex at her home on approximately three occasions. Messages recovered from her account included references to sexual activity.

When arrested in 2022, Wager denied knowing Ms A, claiming he had no Facebook account in 2016. Investigators found searches on his phone related to deleting Facebook photos and messages. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) completed an investigation and referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

CPS decision and misconduct ruling

The CPS announced in September 2024 that it would not charge Wager. A Metropolitan Police misconduct panel later examined the evidence and ruled in March 2025 that Wager had acted in a predatory manner. The panel described his behaviour as a deliberate exploitation of a woman he knew to be extremely vulnerable.

In a report filed at 4.25am on the night of the incident, Wager noted Ms A’s history of mental health problems, alcohol issues, and suicide attempts. He described her as clingy and unwilling to attend hospital without his presence. The panel found Ms A’s account detailed and credible, while Wager’s denials were not substantiated.

What happens next

Wager remains on the policing barred list, preventing him from serving in any UK police force. The Metropolitan Police has not confirmed whether further internal reviews or victim support measures will follow. Ms A’s legal representatives have not indicated whether she intends to pursue civil action.