David Carrick, the disgraced former Metropolitan Police firearms officer, has been found guilty of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl 18 months in the late 1980s. The bombshell conviction comes after a chilling 1990 letter emerged, where Carrick confessed his crimes to his mother — yet shockingly, police never properly investigated. Now 50 and already serving 36 life sentences for 71 offences, Carrick faces fresh charges including five counts of indecent assault on the child, plus new rapes and abuse against another victim.
Decades-Old Confession Ignored as Abuse Went Unchecked
Southwark Crown Court ruled on November 18, 2025, that Carrick repeatedly assaulted the girl between 1989 and 1990. He would cover her mouth and trap her in furniture during the attacks. The prosecution unveiled the devastating confession letter packed with chilling admissions:
“The girl ‘is not crazy’… ‘It was true but I stopped about four months ago,’” Carrick wrote. “I know how [she] must feel. That’s why I stopped and promised I would never go near her again and I have kept that promise.”
The document was found in medical files but dismissed by Carrick during the trial as faked. The young victim, now grown, told the court she feared the nightmare would worsen once Carrick became a police officer.
“When I heard he was a Metropolitan Police officer, the words I have always used were: ‘God help anyone with him with a warrant card,’” she said.
New Victims, Shocking Abuse of Authority
In a grim extension to his crimes, the jury also found Carrick guilty of:
- Two counts of rape
- One count of sexual assault
- One count of coercive and controlling behaviour
These related to a former partner he met on a dating app in 2014. Initially charming and witty, Carrick’s facade crumbled into years of brutal abuse — including throttling, kicking, and repeated sexual violence.
Despite the mountain of evidence, Carrick refused to testify in his own defence, stuck to outright denials, and tried to dismiss his own confession letter as a forgery.
Systemic Police Failures Let Predator Carry Firearms for 20 Years
Shockingly, the abuse didn’t stop in his teens — Carrick’s police career spanned from 2001 to 2021. During that time, he served in the elite parliamentary and diplomatic protection unit, carrying weapons while committing at least 48 rapes, as well as 71 sexual offences against women.
Multiple police forces received 14 complaints about Carrick — including rape and domestic violence — yet he stayed on duty. Police nicknamed him “Bastard Dave,” a dark omen ignored by the system.
His 1990 confession letter and a 2000 burglary investigation for stealing ex-girlfriend’s underwear never barred him from joining the force or getting firearms clearance. These glaring vetting failures allowed a known predator to traffic weapons and exploit his status to terrorise victims.
The scandal has sparked outrage online, with #Carrick trending as the public lashes out at police “cover-ups” and systemic misogyny exposed in Baroness Casey’s 2023 review.
Justice Still Unfolding as Carrick Awaits Heavier Sentence
Carrick is currently locked up at HMP Frankland, a top security prison. His initial 36 life sentences were issued in February 2023, but the new convictions have extended the judge’s promise to impose whole life terms if more victims surfaced.
Ms Justice McGowan will decide Carrick’s final sentence in December 2025, with prosecutors expected to push for a tougher tariff.
Victims’ support groups continue to assist survivors battling trauma from years of abuse and institutional neglect. With the likelihood of more victims still unknown, this horror story exposes how deeply flawed police recruiting and oversight enabled one of Britain’s most prolific rapist officers.
