UK

Police officer rapist David Carrick jailed for minimum of 30 years

David Carrick admitted offences against 12 women
David Carrick admitted offences against 12 women David Carrick admitted offences against 12 women

Rapist Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick will serve at least 30 years behind bars for attacking a dozen women over a 17-year period.

In a two-day sentencing hearing, Southwark Crown Court heard how the 48-year-old "monster" used his power and control to carry out a "catalogue of violent and brutal" sex attacks between 2003 and 2020.

His victims spoke of how they had "encountered evil", and the court was told Carrick sent one of his victims a photograph of himself with a work-issue gun, saying: "Remember I am the boss."

The court also heard how he told another woman he was the "safest person that she could be with and that he was a police officer" before taking her back to his nearby flat to rape her.

Carrick, who was sacked from the force following his conviction, was handed 36 life sentences with a minimum term of 32 years.

The sex predator previously admitted 49 charges, including 24 counts of rape and charges of sexual assault, controlling and coercive behaviour and false imprisonment.

Deducting the number of days he had spent in custody from his minimum term on Tuesday, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the defendant: "These convictions represent a spectacular downfall for a man charged with upholding the law and empowered to do so even to the extent of being authorised to bear a firearm in the execution of his duty."

What are the key events in the Carrick case?

By Henry Vaughan, PA

As Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick is sentenced for carrying out sex attacks on a dozen women, here are some of the key events in the case:

- 1996-1997: Carrick serves in the British Army.

- 2000: He is a suspect in two offences reported to the Met involving allegations of malicious communications and burglary against a former partner after Carrick refused to accept the end of their relationship. He is not arrested and no further action is taken.

- August 2001: Carrick joins the Met. After training he works as a response officer based in Merton, south-west London.

- 2002: While still in his two-year probationary period, Carrick is accused of harassment and assault against a former partner. He is not arrested by the Met and no further action is taken. The matter is not referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards.

- 2002: Carrick is the subject of the first of five public complaints made between 2002 and 2008. Two allegations that he had been rude were dealt with by management action locally, while three relating to incivility and use of force were withdrawn or dismissed.

- 2003: His first known victim is repeatedly raped.

- 2004: Carrick rapes another woman.

- 2004: Carrick is involved in a domestic incident but no criminal allegations are made to the Met, he is not arrested and the matter is not referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards.

- July 2005: The officer is now based in Barnet, north London.

- 2006-2009: On multiple occasions, the officer rapes a woman, whom he abuses, threatens with violence and demeans. She fears she will not be believed if she reports him.

- 2009: Carrick is transferred to what is now the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, where his role involves providing an armed policing presence at parliamentary, government and diplomatic premises.

- 2009: Hertfordshire Police receive a domestic abuse report from a third party involving Carrick but neither party makes a complaint and no charge is brought. Hertfordshire Police inform Met supervisors.

- 2009: Carrick meets his next victim, a 51-year-old woman, whom he sexually assaults after a social evening.

- August 2009: He sexually assaults a 47-year-old woman after sharing a hotel room following a social event.

- November 2009: Carrick invites a 57-year-old woman back to his home, becomes aggressive and tries to rape her.

- November 2015: Carrick rapes a 45-year-old woman.

- 2016: Carrick is a suspect in a Hampshire Police investigation following an allegation of harassment. He is not arrested and the inquiry is later closed.

- October 2016: Carrick repeatedly rapes and sexually abuses a woman he met online, in some cases causing injuries and urinating over her.

- 2017: Carrick should have been vetted after 10 years of service but is only now re-vetted and passes.

- 2017: Carrick is spoken to by Thames Valley Police officers after he is thrown out of a Reading nightclub for being drunk. He is not arrested and the matter is not referred to the Met.

- March 2017: Carrick meets a woman on a night out, whom he goes on to rape multiple times and sexually abuse. She later describes him as totally controlling and aggressive and says he regularly urinated in her mouth, humiliated her and threatened her with violence.

- 2017: Carrick meets a woman on an online dating site who later says he raped her in the shower after dragging her in by her hair. She also describes being whipped with a belt and suffocated during sex.

- July 2018: Carrick meets a 41-year-old woman online, whom he sexually assaults while she cleans his bathroom.

- 2019: Hertfordshire Police receive a third party report of assault and criminal damage involving an argument between Carrick and a woman during a domestic incident. He is said to have grabbed her by the neck.

Neither party is supportive of police involvement and no further action is taken after the case is looked at by the domestic abuse unit.

The incident is referred to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards and Carrick is given words of advice in relation to informing his chain of command about off-duty incidents. It is determined he has no case to answer in relation to misconduct.

- July 2020: Carrick meets a woman on an online dating site whom he goes on to rape, causing her injuries. He is verbally and physically aggressive, urinates on her and uses sex toys against her will.

- July 2021: The woman reports being raped by Carrick. He is arrested by Hertfordshire Police over the allegation but no further action is taken after she withdraws the complaint.

The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards is made aware and Carrick is placed on restricted duties. It is determined he has no case to answer in relation to any misconduct and in September the restriction is lifted, although he never returns to full duties.

- October 1 2021: A 50-year-old woman reports she was raped by Carrick in September 2020. He is arrested, charged and suspended by the Met.

- October 4: Carrick is remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with rape.

- October 2021-October 2022: The publicity prompts another 12 women to come forward and make allegations against Carrick.

- December 13 2022: Carrick pleads guilty to 43 offences at the Old Bailey. His pay is stopped by the Met.

- January 16 2023: Carrick admits a further six charges at Southwark Crown Court.

- January 17 2023: He is sacked by the Met following a special misconduct hearing.

- February 6-7: Carrick is sentenced at Southwark Crown Court, where he is jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years. He is handed 36 life sentences.