Des O’Connor’s daughter loses High Court battle with Met Police over claims it did not investigate a detective properly who had told her she was ‘amazingly hot’
- Kristina O’Connor lost her bid for a Judicial Review into her Met Police complaint
The daughter of one of Britain’s best-known entertainers has lost a High Court battle with the Metropolitan Police after complaining about a detective who said she was ‘amazingly hot’.
DCI James Mason, 44, had met Kristina O’Connor, 34, the daughter of late entertainer Des O’Connor, as a result of a crime report.
Ms O’Connor had taken legal action against the Police Misconduct Panel, claiming it failed to address Mr Mason’s ‘predatory and abusive’ actions and that the Metropolitan Police had ‘failed to properly investigate’ her complaint.
The Met Police and the misconduct panel disputed her claims.
Mr Justice Swift, who considered the arguments at several High Court hearings in London earlier this year, today dismissed her application for ‘judicial review’.
Kristina O’Connor, 34, took legal action against the Met Police over its handling of DCI James Mason’s misconduct investigation after the officer kept his job
Miss O’Connor is the daughter of late entertainer Des O’Connor (pictured together), who died in 2020; and she is a musician in her own right
Lawyers representing Ms O’Connor indicated that they were considering an appeal.
Ms O’Connor was sent numerous inappropriate messages by Mr Mason after he responded to her report of an attempted robbery in October 2011, the judge heard.
She had complained about Mr Mason, who was a detective sergeant at the time.
A police misconduct panel found that Mr Mason had ‘deliberately and repeatedly abused his position for a sexual purpose’ and his conduct ‘amounted to gross misconduct’.
He was given a final written warning.
Mr Mason resigned from the Metropolitan Police late in 2022, the judge was told.
Lawyers representing Ms O’Connor said the force ‘failed to properly investigate’ the complaint.
They said a police misconduct panel failed to address ‘predatory and abusive’ actions.
Lawyers representing the misconduct panel and the Metropolitan Police disputed claims about the way they handled the process.
‘I reject the claimant’s challenges to the decisions of the (police) commissioner and the panel,’ said Mr Justice Swift in a written ruling.
‘The application for judicial review is dismissed.’
Ms O’Connor said after the ruling: ‘This has been a frustrating process, and it is not the outcome I was hoping for but I want to keep fighting for justice for women.’
Lawyer Nancy Collins, who represents her and is based at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors, added: ‘It is very disappointing that the High Court has dismissed Kristina O’Connor’s challenge to the police disciplinary process.’
Mr Justice Swift said it was sufficient that the ‘steps that were taken’ during the disciplinary process were ‘both reasonable and appropriate’.
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