Mark Tyrrell, aged 55 and a former police officer with London's Metropolitan Police, has been charged with a total of 17 sexual offences, which include two counts of rape related to an incident with a woman he encountered while on duty. In addition to the rape charges, he faces three counts of perverting the course of justice, as it is alleged that he deleted messages, misled the police, and coerced the victim into giving a false statement.

Tyrrell, who served in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, allegedly developed an improper relationship with the complainant as a result of their interactions during his official duties. The prosecution's case, presented by Rhianne Neil at Westminster Magistrates' Court, noted that the initial contact between the woman and Tyrrell was made through work channels, but he subsequently responded using his personal mobile phone.

Following his arrest in April 2023, Tyrrell was suspended before he officially retired in September of the same year. The accusations against him cover a time span from 2017 to 2023, and during the court session, Tyrrell was not required to enter any pleas. His next court date is set for October 2 at Southwark Crown Court.