A victim of serial rapist David Carrick has described her encounter with “evil” when she was assaulted by the Met Police officer who committed a “catalog” of sexual offenses.
Carrick intimidated women by threatening one with his baton and emailing another a picture of his rifle with the words “I am the boss” written on it.
He is being punished for 49 offenses committed against 12 women over 20 years.
Carrick would “utilize his authority and control” to prevent victims from reporting him.
On the first day of a two-day sentencing hearing, Southwark Crown Court heard statements from Carrick’s victims. Including one who said, “He was a police officer – what was there to be suspicious about?”
Another individual claimed that Carrick “hammered into” her mind that he was an officer, preventing her from calling the alarm.
From 2003 until 2020, he perpetrated scores of rapes and sexual offenses, predominantly in Hertfordshire, where he resided.
Prosecutor Tom Little KC stated in his opening statement that Carrick, 48, told a lady he met in a London bar in 2003 that “he was the safest person she could be with and that he was a police officer” before taking her back to his adjacent apartment.
Mr. Little testified before the court that the woman “froze” when he placed a black revolver to her head and shouted “you are not leaving” before repeatedly raping her.
He also held the victim’s throat and said he would be her last sight.
Mr. Little stated that the injured woman went to the hospital. After saying that a police officer had raped her, a nurse advised her to “try to put it behind her and move on” because “it may not go to court.”
Mr. Little stated, “As a result, [the victim] did not report the incident to the police at the time.”
“That night, I felt I had encountered evil,” one victim said in a court-read victim impact statement.
Another stated that she had not been in a relationship since Carrick’s attack and that it had “changed her life.”
After seeing Carrick, a woman called food changes and binge drinking “poisoning” and “self-destructive impulses.”
Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, apologised for lost opportunities to fire Carrick. Carrick was fired by the Met a day after pleading guilty last month.
Between 2000 and 2021, he was involved in nine events, including allegations of rape, for which police were contacted.
“If the offending were to be accurately and reasonably summed up, it was systematic,” Mr. Little said at sentencing. It was a catalog of violent and brutal sexual offenses committed against multiple victims. Whether he was in a controlling or coercive relationship with them or not, or even if it was a single incident.
“It made no difference who the victim was; if he had the opportunity. He would rape, sexually abuse, or assault, and humiliate them,”
He stated, “[Carrick] frequently relied on his charm to entice and mislead the victims in the first place. And then used his power and control, in part due to his profession, to prevent them from fleeing or considering reporting him.”
Another lady claimed Carrick whipped her and trapped her in a cupboard. While “whistling at her as if she were a dog.”
“Remember I am the boss,” Carrick allegedly emailed her.
Carrick “behaved like a monster when he was intoxicated,” a dating service user said.
The court heard that Carrick referred to her as his “slave,” and that when he requested her to clean his house naked she was “terrified” because he was a police officer.
Mr. Little stated that the offenses justified a life sentence with a minimum period, but not a whole life sentence.
The court heard that all of Carrick’s offenses occurred while he was a police officer in Stevenage and that he completed a course on domestic violence in 2005.
Alisdair Williamson KC, the defense attorney, stated in mitigation that Carrick “accepts full responsibility for what he has done.”
He stated that “something has gravely affected” the defendant, who “cannot plead for mercy and does not.”
Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb informed the court that Carrick would be sentenced on Tuesday morning.