Undercover Officer Confesses to 'Grotesque and Cruel' Deception in Spycops Inquiry
Carlo Soracchi, an undercover police officer, has admitted to telling grotesque and cruel lies while emotionally manipulating two women he deceived into long-term sexual relationships, the ongoing spycops public inquiry has heard. Soracchi's deployment involved infiltrating leftwing and anti-fascist campaigners between 2000 and 2006, during which he exploited the empathy of his victims with fabricated stories of family abuse.
Exploiting Empathy with Fabricated Trauma
Soracchi confessed to eliciting sympathy from one woman, Donna McLean, by falsely claiming that his sister had been abused by his father. He also lied about his father's death, stating he had passed away when in reality he was still alive. This manipulation was described as particularly calculating and distasteful by David Barr, the inquiry's chief barrister, especially since McLean had previously confided in Soracchi about her own physically abusive father.
When questioned, Soracchi admitted to deliberately exploiting McLean's empathy, stating, We were undercover police officers, it's what we did. He accepted that his behavior had been grotesque, and McLean testified that his deception was cruel, unnecessary, inhumane, malicious and has led to a deep ongoing impact—a characterization Soracchi agreed was true.
Misuse of Taxpayer Funds for Personal Pleasure
The inquiry revealed that Soracchi deceitfully used taxpayers' money to cover personal expenses. In 2003, he flew with McLean to Bologna for a Valentine's Day and birthday celebration, claiming £477 for the trip. Police documents showed his managers justified this expenditure as part of his infiltration of leftwing groups, but Soracchi admitted the trip was purely pleasure and that he had deceived his managers about its true purpose.
Additionally, Soracchi faced scrutiny over rent discrepancies for the one-bedroom flat he shared with McLean in Maida Vale, London. While he claimed to pay £685 monthly, McLean stated the total rent was only £320, with his contribution up to £200. When asked if he was making a profit, Soracchi denied it, but the inquiry highlighted potential financial misconduct.
Deception in Multiple Relationships
Soracchi's deception extended to a second woman, known as Lindsey, with whom he had a year-long relationship. He is alleged to have used public funds to pay for a romantic break in Venice with her in 2001, further illustrating a pattern of misuse of resources. During his relationship with McLean, he proposed marriage and discussed wedding details, despite being already married with a child—a fact McLean was unaware of until his deployment ended.
The spycops inquiry is examining the conduct of approximately 139 undercover officers who infiltrated political groups over more than four decades, shedding light on systemic issues of emotional manipulation and financial impropriety within undercover policing operations.
