32-year jail term for rapist PC will stand

THE sentence of rapist policeman David Carrick will not be referred to the Court of Appeal over complaints it was too lenient, it was announced yesterday.

The disgraced constable, described as a ‘monster’ and ‘evil’ by some of his dozen victims, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years after carrying out a ‘catalogue of violent and brutal’ sex attacks between 2003 and 2020.

Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC said although ‘ so many’ referrals were received under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme, which allows the public to voice their concerns, the case did not meet the high threshold for a term to be reviewed.

He added: ‘I have received full and detailed legal advice and considered the issues raised very carefully and concluded Carrick’s case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal.

‘Such a referral can only be made if the legal test is met, irrespective of the seriousness of the offending or the emotions the offending may evoke in all of us.’

Carrick, 48, who joined the Met in 2001 before becoming an armed officer with the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in 2009, used his position to gain his victims’ trust and scare them into silence.

He pleaded guilty to 49 charges, including 24 counts of rape, but some were multiple-incident counts, meaning they relate to at least 85 separate offences, including at least 71 sexual offences and 48 rapes.