Undercover officer deceived women with ‘grotesque and cruel’ lies, spycops inquiry told | Police

An undercover police officer told “grotesque and brutal” lies as he emotionally manipulated two women he was cheating on into engaging in long-term sexual relationships, a public inquiry into spy cops has heard.

Carlo Soracchi admitted that he tried to gain the empathy of one of the women by claiming that his sister had been abused by her father. He also said that his father died while he was alive.

Soracchi also admitted to fraudulently receiving taxpayer money to cover expenses for a trip to Italy to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the woman, Donna McLean.

He was questioned in the investigation into his recruitment, which involved infiltrating left-wing and anti-fascist campaigners between 2000 and 2006.

During this time, McLean had a two-year relationship with him. The inquest heard how the man proposed to her and told her mother he wanted to have a baby with her. After accepting the marriage proposal, she discussed the details of the wedding with Soracchi, including seating plans and menus.

Other witnesses said the engagement was common knowledge in their circle of friends. Soracchi admitted to having an affair with her but denied wanting to marry her or have children with her.

McLean didn’t know that he was already married with a child or that he was an undercover police officer who would have to disappear at the end of his mission.

In 2003, Soracchi flew to Bologna for a long weekend with McLean to celebrate Valentine’s Day and his supposed birthday. Police documents showed he claimed £477 towards travel costs. His managers noted that this expenditure was justified on the grounds that he was meeting with Italian socialists as part of infiltrating left-wing groups.

Asked whether he had deceived his managers about the true purpose of the trip, the inquiry’s lead lawyer, David Barr, conceded, admitting it was “pure pleasure”.

Soracchi said he went to Italy around Christmas 2003 to care for his father, who had a stroke. He called McLean in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2004 and lied when he told her his father had died.

After his father’s supposed funeral, Soracchi said his sister had suffered abuse at the hands of her father for years. Barr said this was “particularly calculated and unpleasant” because McLean had previously told Soracchi that he had a physically abusive father.

Soracchi said he wanted to ask for her empathy when he was apparently having a breakdown and wanted to end the relationship against her wishes. Asked if he deliberately exploited McLean’s empathy, he agreed, adding: “We were undercover police officers, that’s what we did.” He acknowledged that his behavior was “grotesque”.

McLean said his cheating on her was “cruel, unnecessary, inhumane, malicious and caused a profound ongoing impact.” Soracchi admitted that this was true.

Soracchi also faced questions about an apparent discrepancy in the amount of rent he claimed from the police budget for the one-bedroom flat he shared with McLean in London’s Maida Vale for more than a year.

Soracchi said he gave McLean £685 each month as his share of rent and other expenses. But McLean said the total rent for the flat was £320 a month and he had contributed up to £200.

Barr asked if it was true that he “made a significant profit.” He replied: “No, it’s not like that.”

He tricked a second woman, known as Lindsey, into a year-long affair. He allegedly used taxpayers’ money to spend a romantic holiday with her in Venice in 2001.

The investigation is examining the conduct of approximately 139 undercover officers who infiltrated political groups over four decades.