Met Police Officer Faces Trial Over Alleged Domestic Abuse and Fraud
A Metropolitan Police officer has been accused of violently assaulting his girlfriend and defrauding multiple women to support his gambling habit, according to testimony presented at Southwark Crown Court. Lewis Rollins, 28, denies charges including controlling or coercive behavior, property damage, and fraud.
Alleged Hotel Room Assault
Dr. Georgia Miller, who met Rollins on the dating app Bumble in April 2022, described a disturbing incident in a Birmingham hotel room in July 2022. She testified that Rollins, enraged by suspicions she was texting an ex-boyfriend, threw her out of bed and slammed her against a wall.
"He pushed me against the wall... he had me by the throat, but like with one hand so I could still breathe. I don't think he was trying to kill me, he was just trying to scare me," Dr. Miller told the court. She recounted fleeing to the bathroom, only to be attacked again upon emerging, leaving her in tears.
Pressure to Withhold Reporting
The assault occurred during a family trip for Rollins' sister's dance performance. Dr. Miller informed his parents the next morning, but his mother urged her not to report the incident, citing potential damage to his police career. "Just remember what this could do to his career. You'll get over this, you'll be fine," Dr. Miller recalled the mother saying.
She agreed not to contact authorities, and Rollins later sent a text message asking, "How do we move past what I said? How do we move past you looked me in the eye and lied to me? How do we move past I beat you up?"
Further Incidents and Financial Exploitation
In August 2022, witnesses reported Rollins shoving Dr. Miller into the road and breaking her necklaces during an argument. Police body-worn footage showed Dr. Miller hesitant to identify Rollins, fearing for his job. "He was a police officer at the time so I was scared of what would happen," she explained.
Dr. Miller also detailed how Rollins manipulated her into helping with his finances, including a loan application to the Met Police. She lent him significant sums, struggling to make ends meet as a new doctor. Financial records revealed transactions including £1,000 for a bet and over £1,000 for rent.
"He was quite a big burden on my life at this point, I felt really trapped and I didn't know how to get out of it and he used that against me, it felt horrible," she testified.
Pattern of Abuse and Additional Victims
Jurors heard that Rollins subjected Dr. Miller to verbal abuse, calling her derogatory names during "vile mood swings." Meanwhile, he was allegedly arranging to meet another woman, identified as "Hannah," while receiving financial help from Dr. Miller.
The prosecution outlined similar patterns with other women. Before meeting Dr. Miller, Rollins attempted to convince another woman to take out a £4,000 loan for him in February 2022; she refused but gave him £1,500 in May 2022. In April 2023, he met trainee solicitor Emily Busby, who provided £800 for a deposit after he gambled away parental funds and allowed him to use her car, resulting in parking fines and speeding tickets.
Ms. Busby later took out a £4,000 loan, giving £2,500 to Rollins. Prosecutor Rekha Kodikara stated, "(He) thought he was entitled to the loan she took out – he saw it as his money."
Gambling Addiction and Systemic Issues
Dr. Miller expressed frustration with the lack of specialized NHS support for gambling addiction, noting, "They've got everything under the sun except for gambling... it was ruining his life and the life of everyone around him." The court heard that Rollins' parents were also in significant debt due to his gambling.
Rollins, of Fareham, Hampshire, continues to deny all charges. The trial at Southwark Crown Court is ongoing, highlighting serious allegations against a serving police officer and the broader impact of gambling addiction.
