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An ex-police officer testified to a jury that he struck an inspector in self-defense when he discovered him engaging in sexual activity with his fellow police officer wife in the backseat of a car.
On the evening of February 16, 2021, Gavin Harper, 45, pursued the couple to a parking lot at Screwfix in Birkenhead, Merseyside. He had previously placed a tracking device on his wife’s car.
The safety personnel claimed that for several months, he had harbored suspicions about a romantic relationship between Stephanie Glynn, 40, and Andrew McLullich, 42, who are both colleagues at Merseyside Police.
Mr. Harper is currently facing charges at Liverpool Crown Court for causing physical harm to Mr. McLullich and for stalking Ms. Glynn from December 2020 to February 2021.
When he testified on Tuesday, he informed his lawyer, Suzanne Payne, that his intention was not to confront the inspector when he went to the car park.
He stated that his intention was not to cause harm or engage in violence.
Can you share your thoughts on what you believed needed to be done, as Miss Payne inquired?
Harper responded by suggesting obtaining concrete evidence of the affair, specifically through video documentation, and turning it over to the authorities.
Miss Payne asked: “What is the reason?”
Harper stated that two on-duty officers were involved in a romantic relationship during the Covid pandemic.
He claimed that upon reaching Mr. McLullich’s car, he observed that he was “without a doubt engaging in sexual activity with another person.”
He continued: “I gazed out the window and observed that he was, in reality, engaging in sexual activity with Steph.”
When questioned about his decision to open the back passenger door while recording on his phone, he explained to the court that he wanted to capture better footage and to make the individuals aware that he had solid evidence of their actions.
“Did anyone say anything?”
The accused stated that they could not recall the exact words they used, but it was something similar to, “I have you now, I caught you.”
Steph yelled while exclaiming, “It’s Gav!”
“I felt upset, but strangely comforted.”
Miss Payne asked, “Were you feeling angry?”
“I definitely do not agree,” stated Harper from Liscard, Wirral.
The individual reported that Mr. McLullich began repeatedly punching him.
Miss Payne inquired, “Did you attempt to defend yourself?”
Harper admitted to punching him multiple times, stating “I did punch him – three, four times.”
“Did you continue to defend yourself?” – Miss Payne asked.
The accused answered, “No, I lacked the energy and I was not present for that.”
According to him, the inspector “leg-sweeped” him and punched him while he was on the ground.
Harper’s spouse, who was only wearing socks on her lower half, instructed Mr. McLullich to grab his phone.
During the ensuing altercation, Ms Glynn proceeded to kick him, as reported by him.
He informed the jury that it was likely the most terrible aspect of the situation.
Harper mentioned that he eventually removed his phone from his pocket and began capturing numerous still photographs.
The accused stated that they made a negative comment about Mr. McLullich’s penis, which angered him. This resulted in him becoming furious and striking the accused repeatedly in the face.
“Steph interceded between us, putting an end to it.”
Ms Glynn allegedly began a sexual relationship with Mr McLullich after ending her marriage with Harper, causing him to struggle with the end of their relationship.
According to the prosecution, he developed an intense fixation on it and he was the one who assaulted Mr McLullich in the car park at Screwfix.
Harper became wary of the duo when he noticed that his spouse’s phone log showed numerous calls from Mr McLullich.
He mentioned that Ms. Glynn informed him she was his mentor at the workplace, and he was assisting her in preparing for her police sergeant’s examination.
He testified in court, saying, “I had a feeling something was happening, but I couldn’t provide evidence. I asked her multiple times and she continued to deny it, saying, ‘It’s all in your mind, it’s all in your mind’.”
Harper stated that he chose to turn on the microphone in the vehicle tracking device and relocate it from the trunk to beneath the driver’s seat. This allowed him to listen in real time through an application on his phone.
He stated that one discussion between the duo affirmed his doubts.
Harper reported that the individuals were discussing an incident from a previous night shift where they had engaged in sexual activity and were joking about who would have to sit in the wet spot in the police car.
I felt distressed. I became aware that something was happening, but I didn’t have any solid evidence to confront her because she would simply refuse to admit it.
He proceeded to save her Snapchat call records onto his own device and found a large volume of messages exchanged between the two, according to him.
Harper claimed to have utilized his former spouse’s cellphone to contact Mr McLullich.
The accused stated that the individual said, “Hello beautiful” and I replied, “It’s Gav, Stephanie’s spouse.” There was a brief silence and then the individual exclaimed, “Uh oh.”
”
He pleaded with me to keep quiet and not report the events to the police. He hinted that he and Steph could lose their jobs.
“He pleaded with me not to inform his spouse and ruin his kids’ holiday season.”
Harper stated that Mr McLullich denied having sexual relations with Ms Glynn, but acknowledged the existence of inappropriate messages and videos. He also agreed that they were abhorrent.
Source: independent.co.uk
