A RETIRED police officer from Bournemouth was among five who have admitted sending racist WhatsApp messages – including about Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

Anthony Elsom, 67, of Bournemouth, was among a quintet of former Met Police officers who admitted sending ‘grossly offensive’ messages.

Elsom retired from the Met in May 2012. All five officers retired form the force between 2001 and 2015.

Although they served in various parts of the Met, all spent time in the former Diplomatic Protection Group, which was tasked with protecting diplomatic missions in London, as well as the Palace of Westminster and events like royal weddings.

The other four former officers were:
* Peter Booth, 66, of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, who pleaded guilty to four counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired in April 2001.
* Robert Lewis, 62, of Camberley, Surrey, admitted eight counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the Met in May 2015 and became a Home Office official before he was dismissed for gross misconduct last November.
* Alan Hall, 65, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, also entered guilty pleas to three counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the Met in June 2015.
* Trevor Lewton, 65, of Swansea, South Wales, pleaded guilty to one count of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the Met in August 2009.