Met Police officer admits rape

A Metropolitan Police armed officer, who used his position to put fear into women, has admitted dozens of rape and sexual offences against 12 women. David Carrick, 48, who met some victims through dating websites, pleaded guilty to 49 offences, including 24 rapes, across two decades.

The Met has apologised after it emerged he had come to the attention of police over nine incidents, including rape allegations, between 2000 and 2021.

A senior officer said his offending was "unprecedented in policing".

Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray, the Met's lead for professionalism, said: "We should have spotted his pattern of abusive behaviour and because we didn't, we missed opportunities to remove him from the organisation," she said.

"We are truly sorry that being able to continue to use his role as a police officer may have prolonged the suffering of his victims."

Carrick was suspended from duty when he was arrested in October 2021.

It can now be reported that Carrick had already pleaded guilty to 43 charges, including 20 counts of rape, in December.

Carrick, who would meet the women on dating apps or in social situations, served with the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.

He admitted raping nine women, some on multiple occasions over months or years, with many of those attacks involving violence that would have left them physically injured.