An ex-police officer, Lewis Rollins, has been sentenced for deceiving and exploiting multiple girlfriends to fund his gambling addiction. Rollins, formerly a police constable in the Met’s Central West Command Unit, manipulated women he met on dating apps to contribute money towards his mounting debts. Court proceedings revealed that Rollins simultaneously dated two women, persuading them to provide financial assistance. He later engaged in a relationship with a third woman, convincing her to take out a £4,000 loan to settle his debts.

Rollins, aged 29, was found guilty of two counts of coercive or controlling behavior and three fraud charges by a jury. Additionally, he was convicted of assaulting another woman who intervened to protect her flatmate from Rollins, whom she was dating. Testimony from Dr. Georgia Miller detailed Rollins’ aggressive outbursts, violence, and financial manipulation, including coercing her to transfer substantial sums of money to him.

Further accounts revealed that Rollins had exploited the kindness of another woman, Emily Busby, whom he met on a dating app in 2023. Busby lent Rollins money to cover his accommodation deposit after he squandered funds received from his parents on gambling. Subsequently, she borrowed £4,000 for Rollins, leading to financial distress for herself.

During sentencing, Busby expressed the lasting financial and emotional impact of Rollins’ actions, emphasizing her loss of savings and ongoing debt struggles. The judge criticized Rollins for his lack of remorse and manipulative behavior towards the victims. Despite Rollins’ period of gambling abstinence, the judge imposed an 18-month community order on him, requiring 30 rehabilitation activity days. Additionally, Rollins was ordered to reimburse Busby £3,132.50 within six months as compensation.