‘It could’ve been me’: Wayne Couzens flashing victim describes ‘survivor’s guilt’ after Sarah Everard murder

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Police “could have saved Sarah Everard” if they acted more quickly on reports of Wayne Couzens flashing McDonald’s staff days before, one of his victims has said. It was only after Sarah’s murder that I became involved.” The woman, who broke down crying while delivering her statement, said that by the time Couzens exposed himself to her on 27 February 2021, colleagues told her he had done the same “several times before” at the same McDonald’s. I still think about this now.” The woman said that she now feels that she has to take public transport instead of walking home, telling the court: “I should not have to be in fear of somebody attacking me and I should feel able to walk home while feeling safe.” Couzens’s sentencing hearing also heard statements from two other victims of his perverted indecent exposure offences, including another member of McDonald’s staff. She described feeling sick after seeing Couzens had murdered Ms Everard and felt “survivor’s guilt”, adding: “It could have been me.” Couzens admitted two incidents of indecent exposure at the McDonald’s, as well as a previous incident in Kent in November 2020.