In a case that has further rocked public confidence in the Metropolitan Police, former officer David Carrick has been handed an additional prison sentence for possessing depraved indecent images of children.
The disgraced PC, who is already serving 36 life sentences for a horrific catalogue of rapes and sexual offences against 12 women, appeared via videolink from HMP Wakefield to face his latest punishment.
A Pattern of Depravity
Southwark Crown Court heard how Carrick, 49, who served with the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, stored 69 category A images - the most severe classification - alongside 100 category B and C images.
Detectives discovered the sickening collection during their investigation into his serial sex crimes, uncovering evidence that spanned from 2016 to 2020 while he was still serving as a police officer.
Systemic Failures Exposed
This case represents another devastating blow to the Metropolitan Police, coming just years after the Wayne Couzens scandal. Carrick's crimes have exposed alarming gaps in police vetting procedures, with the officer having been reported to police on nine separate occasions before his eventual arrest.
Judge Sarah Munro KC delivered a scathing assessment, stating the images represented 'additional degradation' of his victims and highlighting the 'very high level of seriousness' of his offences.
Justice Served but Trust Broken
While Carrick will serve his new 4-year sentence concurrently with his existing terms, meaning he'll likely never be released, the case raises profound questions about police culture and accountability.
Commander James Harman of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command acknowledged the damage done, stating: 'David Carrick's actions were quite simply awful and our priority has been to support the victims and bring them justice.'
The case continues to prompt urgent reforms within the Metropolitan Police as they struggle to rebuild public trust following this and other high-profile scandals involving serving officers.
