David Carrick, a former Metropolitan Police officer already known as a serial rapist, has been found guilty for a second time after a trial at the Old Bailey. The 50-year-old was convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in the late 1980s and raping a former partner.
Legal Hurdles Overcome to Secure Conviction
Having previously admitted in 2022 and 2023 to being a serial rapist and abuser of twelve women, Carrick refused to admit guilt for these two further charges. This forced his victims to confront him in court and give evidence. The prosecution, led by senior crown prosecutor Shilpa Shah, faced several legal challenges to bring the case to trial.
Carrick declined to give evidence in his own defence, and much of the legal argument had already taken place without the jury present. A key victory for the prosecution was successfully arguing to keep the two allegations as one single trial, rather than having them separated as the defence requested.
The Importance of 'Bad Character' Evidence
Another significant hurdle was ensuring the jury was made aware of Carrick's previous convictions. Despite his public notoriety, it was not a foregone conclusion that this 'bad character' evidence would be permitted.
Ms Shah stated it was vital for the jury to hear this evidence to understand the pattern of his abusive behaviour and the similarities between the accounts of all his victims. This context was crucial in demonstrating that his offending spanned almost four decades, beginning when he was a teenager.
The prosecution's case was strengthened by the compelling accounts of the two victims and a confession Carrick had written in 1990, which was uncovered from his medical records.
A Message of Accountability and a Call for More Victims
Following the guilty verdict, delivered after the jury deliberated for just over four hours, Ms Shah praised the courage of the victims. She emphasised that the prosecution was in the public interest, particularly as Carrick was a serving armed police officer at the time he abused one of the women.
She expressed hope that this case would help rebuild public trust in the police, demonstrating that "no matter what someone's station is, we are willing and able to prosecute them when there is sufficient evidence."
The lawyer also encouraged any other victims of Carrick's abuse to come forward to the police, noting it is "entirely possible" he offended in the gap between his first known crimes as a teenager and the later abuse committed while he was an officer.
