An armed officer who called himself “Type Two Terry” was so notorious trainee officers joked he should keep his hands well above the dashboard. PC Terrence Ellis, based in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, has been sacked for making “disgusting” abusive and misogynistic comments to two female colleagues. One complainant, a fellow officer, told a four-day gross misconduct hearing she was “bewildered and shocked” by Ellis’s boasts given the level of scrutiny on the unit which once employed ’s killer and serial rapist .
The woman said he proudly told her his nickname on a response team, adding Type Two is a Met reference for serious sexual assault allegations. The panel heard probationary officers would joke that Ellis should never have his hands out of sight in the car. In evidence, Ellis denied revelling in his moniker and said it was down to dark humour in the elite squad after two groundless sexual harassment complaints against him were dismissed.
He said another officer had been labelled “Paedo Pete” simply because he had taken a picture with a child. An inspector later instructed other team members to stop using “Type Two Terry” to describe Ellis as it was inappropriate due to recent scandals. However, it also emerged during an officer safety training exercise that involved grappling with a would-be attacker on the floor, Ellis claimed he scanned the room first in the hope of being paired with someone he could “tit grope”, the panel heard.
In a written judgement, the chair found: “At the time, she (the complainant) actually paused and asked herself had he really say that. “There was no reason for her to have made it up. In this regard, it was one of the comments that she had mentioned to her sergeant in the contemporaneous email sent after her shift with the officer.
“She had no reason to fabricate any of the comments he had told her.” Disgraced Ellis also rated one female colleague a “10, well a job [police] 10” and had a picture on his phone of policewoman whom he found attractive but disliked her “duck pout” lips. He told colleagues he intended to join a £100-a-month Virgin Active gym opposite the Israeli Embassy in - where he was stationed - because it “had beautiful women”.
Ellis was dismissed without notice for breaching standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy. He was suspended following allegations in September 2022. Chief Superintendent Andy Burton, in charge of policing the command, said: “PC Ellis’s disgusting behaviour and language has led to his dismissal, a decision I fully support and welcome.
“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable in the organisation and I hope this outcome demonstrates how we are rooting out those who do not demonstrate the standards we demand from our officers. “I would like to recognise the courage and professionalism of the officers who challenged this behaviour.” Ellis, who had around five years’ service, received two commendations from his borough commander for bravery, team work and determination.
Several character testimonials described him as an enthusiastic, approachable and kind officer committed to public service. Ellis will now be placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing, meaning he cannot be rehired by any force or local policing body..
