Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram, citing harm to public trust in police, rejected the idea that their views were simply outdated. Although retired at the time, the officers had served in the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit, and exchanged the offensive messages from 2020 to 2022.

The derogatory messages, some targeting public figures, led to convictions for misuse of a public electronic network. The ex-officers, ranging from 62 to 67 years old, were sentenced to suspended prison terms and required to perform unpaid work.

Robert Lewis, who initiated the group and partook while employed as a part-time Border Force officer, also received a fine for illegal possession of friction batons.

Despite attempts to delete the messages post-exposure, Judge Ikram highlighted their serious impact on public perception of the police. The court emphasized the gravity of the misconduct, not just as private misjudgments but as a broader social concern.

Following the judgments, Metropolitan Police Commander James Harman acknowledged the detestable nature of the messages and the potential further erosion of confidence in law enforcement.