LONDON — A London police officer was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for violence against 12 women over a 17-year period, a series of attacks in which a judge said he benefited uses his victims when he abuses his power. a police officer.
Officer David Carrick’s case is the latest in a series of heartbreaking incidents of violence against women that have led to serious calls for change at the Metropolitan Police, the force covering London. The service has been accused of allowing a culture of misogyny to thrive and failing to address violence against women and girls perpetrated by members of its ranks.
In one of the most disturbing episodes, in 2021, a serving police officer in London, Wayne Couzens, was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping, rape and murder of Sarah Everard, a case The project left the country questioning and stoking calls for reform. .
Mr Carrick, 48, was sentenced at Southwark Criminal Court in London on Tuesday afternoon after a two-day hearing. Before sentencing, Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb described how Mr Carrick “monstrously took advantage of the women” with whom he was romantically involved and “blatantly raped them”.
Mr. Carrick was sentenced to life in prison and served a minimum of 30 years 239 days.
“You behaved as if you were invulnerable,” the judge told Carrick, adding that he carried out a series of assaults that began almost immediately after he became a police officer, and she noted that he repeatedly referred to his work while assaulting his victim.
Mr Carrick pleaded guilty last month to 49 counts against 12 women between 2003 and 2020, including 24 counts of rape, multiple counts of sexual assault, acts of control and coercion as well as neglect. wrong prison.
