adminSerial rapist and former Metropolitan Police officer, David Carrick, will serve a minimum of 30 years in jail.
Carrick was told he had taken “monstrous advantage of women” as he was sentenced to 36 life terms.
The 48-year-old committed violent and degrading sexual offences against a dozen women over two decades.
His victims, one of whom had a gun held to her head while being raped and another who was hit with a whip, spoke of how they had “encountered evil”.
Flanked by two security guards, Carrick showed no emotion as he was sentenced by Justice Cheema-Grubb.
“You behaved as if you were untouchable,” she told him.
“The malign influence of men like you in positions of power stands in the way of a revolution of women’s dignity.”
The judge also praised the bravery of his victims, some of who were in the packed courtroom, saying that the voice of courage cannot be denied.
Southwark Crown Court heard he would “use his power and control” to stop victims reporting him, with one stating it was “drilled into” her that he was a police officer.
In statements read out in court, another victim said she felt she had “encountered evil” after being repeatedly raped by Carrick who put a handgun to her head.
Another woman said Carrick hit her with a whip and would shut her in a small cupboard as punishment while “whistling at her as if she was a dog”.
Carrick’s crimes include dozens of rapes and sexual offences, mostly committed in Hertfordshire, where he lived, and all took place while he was a serving officer.
Chief executive of Women’s Aid, Farah Nazeer, told the BBC that while the jail term was an “acceptable sentence in a very, very unacceptable situation”, she added that it came 17 years, 12 victims and at least 85 offences too late.
Justice Cheema-Grubb said: “These convictions represent a spectacular downfall for a man charged with upholding the law, and empowered to do so even to the extent of being authorised to bear a firearm in the execution of his duty.
“You were bold and, at times, relentless, trusting that no victim would overcome her shame and fear to report you.
“For nearly two decades you were proved right, but now a combination of those 12 women, by coming forward, and your police colleagues, by acting on their evidence, have exposed you and brought you low.”
Carrick, who had undertaken a course on domestic violence in 2005, was sacked by the Met the day after he pleaded guilty. The force’s Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has apologised for failings and said opportunities to remove him from policing were missed.
Following sentencing, Sir Mark described Carrick’s crimes as “unspeakably evil”.
“He exploited his position as a police officer in the most disgusting way. He should not have been a police officer,” he added.
Defence barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, told the court “something has profoundly damaged this man”, adding that Carrick “cannot ask for mercy and does not”.
Carrick pleaded guilty to 49 charges, including 24 counts of rape. He was sentenced to a minimum term of 32 years in jail, which he must serve before he can be considered for parole.
Taking into account the time he has already spent in prison on remand, it means he will spend at least another 30 years and 239 days in prison, when he would be in his late 80s.
The court heard Carrick had attempted to take his own life while on remand at Belmarsh Prison in south-east London, but was found not to be suffering from any mental disorder.
The judge told him: “You were driven to try to commit suicide as a self-pitying reaction to the shame brought on you by these proceedings rather than remorse.” — BBC.
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