David Carrick: Serial Rapist Ex-Met Police Officer Convicted of Further Decades-Spanning Abuse

Former Met Police Officer David Carrick Found Guilty of New Sexual Offences

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the UK’s criminal justice system, David Carrick—a former Metropolitan Police officer already serving a life sentence—has been convicted of further sexual offences against two more women. The verdict, delivered at the Old Bailey in November 2025, marks another grim chapter in a story of relentless abuse that spanned nearly four decades.

Decades of Abuse: The New Convictions

Carrick, 50, from Stevenage, is no stranger to infamy. Jailed for life in 2023 after pleading guilty to 71 sexual offences against 12 women, including 48 rapes, Carrick was once a trusted figure within the Met Police. Now, he faces additional convictions for five counts of indecent assault against a girl under 16, two counts of rape, sexual assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour. The offences stretch from the late 1980s—when Carrick was just a teenager—to as recently as 2019, during his tenure as a senior police officer.

Jurors deliberated for five hours before unanimously finding Carrick guilty. In court, he sat surrounded by prison officers, shaking his head repeatedly as the verdicts were read aloud. The offences include:

• Five counts of indecent assault against a girl under 16 between April 1989 and August 1990
• Two counts of rape against a woman, once between December 2014 and April 2016, then between January and December 2019
• Sexual assault against the same woman between January and December 2019
• Coercive and controlling behaviour towards the same woman between 2016 and 2019

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Thursday, 20th November.

Uncovered Confession: A Missed Opportunity for Justice

One of the most disturbing revelations of this latest trial is the existence of a written confession from Carrick, dating back 35 years. In 1990, a teenage Carrick penned a letter admitting to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl. The note, signed “Dave,” was buried in his medical records and only surfaced decades later, after his conviction for multiple rapes. Superintendent Iain Moor of Hertfordshire Police remarked that, had this confession been acted upon in 1990, the trajectory of Carrick’s offending—and perhaps the lives of many victims—could have been dramatically altered. “It’s very difficult to apply today’s standards back to the 1990s,” Moor reflected, “but had something occurred and the police became aware back then, the future looks very different.” (Mirror)

The victim, whose ordeal began when she was just 12, described how the abuse was “brushed under the carpet” after she told her mother. No action was taken, and Carrick’s offending continued, unchecked, for years. This missed opportunity for intervention has become a painful symbol of systemic failure.

Inside the Courtroom: Victim Testimonies and Carrick’s Denials

The trial featured harrowing testimonies from both victims. The woman abused as a teenager broke down in tears as she recalled the trauma. Learning that her abuser had become a Metropolitan Police officer filled her with dread: “God help anyone with him with a warrant card,” she told jurors. Carrick, in a police interview, denied the allegations and called her a liar, despite his earlier written confession. The victim insisted she had never sought compensation and was motivated only by a need for truth.

The second victim described a “toxic relationship” marked by repeated rape, verbal abuse, and physical violence. In a recorded police interview, she recounted how Carrick strangled her, insulted her, and forced her out of their home. “He’s kind of ruined my life,” she said, explaining how the experience had tainted her views on relationships and trust. Carrick, interviewed in prison, insisted the sex was consensual and accused her of being influenced by the MeToo movement—a claim dismissed by the court.

Throughout the proceedings, Carrick refused to take the stand, leaving his silence to speak volumes. Prosecutor Tom Little KC told jurors his refusal to testify was “deafening.” (BBC News)

Systemic Failures and Calls for Reform

Carrick’s crimes were not an isolated anomaly. As highlighted by The Canary, the Met Police had received multiple complaints and allegations about Carrick’s behaviour over the years, yet he never faced a disciplinary hearing until after his guilty plea in 2023. His dismissal from the force came only after the court’s intervention, raising urgent questions about the culture of impunity within the UK’s largest police force.

Shilpa Shah, the lead prosecutor for both cases, emphasized the significance of prosecuting Carrick a second time: “It was clear from the compelling testimonies given by these women that they had endured relentless abuse to which they did not consent. One victim was a child when she was indecently assaulted and another was sexually abused by him while he served as a senior police officer. These factors made it vital to prosecute him again—not only because of the severity of the crimes and public interest, but also to show the full extent of his offending, which spanned decades.”

For many, the Carrick case has become a rallying point for broader reform. Critics argue that the Met’s failure to act on repeated warning signs—combined with its documented issues of racism, misogyny, and abuse of power—demands sweeping change. Some, like journalist Maryam Jameela, have called for the abolition of the current system, insisting that Carrick is “far from the only Met police officer who has abused his power and made women’s lives hell whilst hiding behind the safety of his badge.”

Impact on Survivors and Society

The ramifications of Carrick’s crimes reverberate far beyond the courtroom. For the women involved, the trauma has reshaped their lives, relationships, and trust in institutions meant to protect them. The case has also ignited a national conversation about how police forces handle internal misconduct and safeguard vulnerable populations.

Hertfordshire Police, in the wake of these convictions, praised the courage of the victims and urged any others who may have suffered at Carrick’s hands to come forward. The hope is that, in exposing the full extent of his abuse, steps can be taken to prevent such failures in the future.

The David Carrick case stands as a stark warning: unchecked power within law enforcement can enable decades of suffering, especially when institutions fail to act on credible evidence. The revelations of ignored confessions and missed opportunities challenge the public to demand greater transparency, accountability, and protection for the vulnerable, lest history repeat itself.