PC Samuel McGregor sentenced to 4 years and 6 months for raping a sleeping woman in 2021, prompting outrage and urgent calls for reform

A Metropolitan Police constable has been jailed for four years and six months after being found guilty of raping a woman as she slept—a chilling abuse of power that has shaken both the public and the policing institution to its core.

PC Samuel McGregor, formerly attached to the Central North Command Unit, committed the attack in May 2021 at a residential address in London. The victim, who knew McGregor personally, had been unaware of the assault until confronted with the grim truth. Forensic evidence sealed the case—evidence that McGregor initially denied, before making a desperate attempt to claim the act had been consensual.

The jury at Inner London Crown Court wasn’t convinced. After a trial earlier this year, they returned a unanimous guilty verdict in January 2024. Today, the same court handed McGregor a sentence many feel doesn’t match the gravity of the crime, yet represents a rare instance of justice where police officers are held to account.

Judge and jury both condemned McGregor’s betrayal of trust, with prosecutors describing the attack as “a devastating violation of consent, decency and duty.” The case, now drawing national attention, raises troubling questions about vetting processes within the force and the toxic culture that can fester behind uniforms.

The victim, whose identity is protected, has suffered not only the trauma of the attack but the agony of knowing her assailant was someone entrusted to uphold the law. In a statement read to the court, she said her world had been “turned upside down,” describing the emotional aftermath as “an unbearable nightmare.”

Community leaders, women’s rights groups, and senior MPs have expressed fury and sadness at the crime. “Another case, another badge disgraced,” said one campaigner. “We need systemic change—this is not an isolated incident.”

The Met Police has been under growing pressure in recent years following a string of scandals involving serving officers. McGregor’s conviction further erodes public faith, especially among women and vulnerable communities.

In a short statement following the sentencing, the Metropolitan Police said McGregor’s conduct had “fallen below the standards expected of any officer,” and confirmed that internal misconduct proceedings would be concluded swiftly. His formal dismissal is expected imminently.

Despite the sentence, critics argue that four and a half years is insufficient for the harm done. The case has also sparked renewed debate around the leniency often afforded to officers within the justice system, and whether existing laws adequately protect victims when the accused wears a uniform.

As the case continues to make headlines, it serves as a grim reminder: the uniform does not make the man. Justice must remain blind to rank, and accountability must be more than just a principle—it must be enforced.