Metropolitan Police officer admits restraining woman with duct tape in a house while off duty

A Metropolitan Police officer has admitted using duct tape to restrain a woman.

Appearing via video-link at Kingston Crown Court from HMP Wandsworth, PC Sam Grigg pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The 36-year-old used duct tape to restrain Natasha Rabinowitz in a house in Twickenham, southwest London, on 2 December last year.

Grigg, of Hazel Close, Twickenham, was off duty at the time of the offence.

It is said he and Ms Rabinowitz knew each other.

Grigg, who was attached to the South West Basic Command Unit, was suspended from duty after being charged.

John Howey, defending, said: “Mr Grigg accepts that he tied up the complainant. He takes no issue with anything she says.”

The Met said Ms Rabinowitz, who is in her 20s, suffered minor injuries but did not need to be treated in hospital.

Judge Georgina Kent ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the sentencing hearing to 10 February at the same court.

“This is a serious offence,” she said.

“The ordering of the report is not an indication of the outcome.”

Met seeks to reassure public

The incident was reported on 6 December last year and Grigg was charged two days later. He appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 8 December.

Commander Jon Savell, who is in charge of the Met’s professional standards team, previously said: “I recognise this news will cause concern and I would like to reassure the public that we took immediate steps as soon as the report was received by police.”

In an earlier statement the force said the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards was informed and a referral would be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Grigg’s behaviour ‘totally unacceptable’

In a statement on Thursday, Commander Savell said: “PC Grigg’s behaviour was totally unacceptable and I know it will cause concern among members of the public. He’s let down the Met and his colleagues who are committed to keeping the people of London safe.

“We took immediate action to suspend PC Grigg from duty when his offending came to light and we will now look to commence misconduct proceedings at the earliest opportunity.

“We are determined to have a Met that the public can trust, with officers that people feel comfortable to approach. When someone fails to meet these standards, we will take action to remove them from our organisation.”