Female Met Police officer revealed she was raped by monster David Carrick… but kept quiet for two decades because she feared no one would believe her
- Met Police officer says force ‘culture’ stopped her from reporting her 2004 rape
- She claims taking action against David Carrick would’ve ‘ruined her career’
The Metropolitan Police chief is praising an officer for her ‘incredibly bravery’ after she reported how she was raped by David Carrick two decades ago but didn’t come forward because the ‘culture’ in the force made her fear she ‘would not be believed.’
The officer, who is referred to as Michelle to protect her identity, claims Carrick attacked her at his home in 2004 but she didn’t come forward until 2021 after he was charged with another rape.
Carrick, 48, was exposed as one of Britain’s most prolific rapists last week after admitting 49 charges against a dozen women, including 24 counts of rape, while serving with the force between 2003 and 2020.
Michelle, speaking to The Times about the trauma she endured, said she finally came forward because ‘I thought I owed it to the victims.’
A Met Police officer, who is referred to as Michelle to protect her identity, claims David Carrick (pictured) attacked her at his home in 2004 but she didn’t come forward until 2021 after he was charged with another rape
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told MailOnline that Michelle has ‘shown incredible bravery’ and ‘I fully support her decision to share her experiences and courageously speak out about the abuse she endured’
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told MailOnline that Michelle has ‘shown incredible bravery.’
‘I fully support her decision to share her experiences and courageously speak out about the abuse she endured,’ he said.
‘We know that many victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse suffer in silence.
‘We are determined not only to root out those who corrupt the Met, but to do everything we can to ensure women, both those who work at the Met and Londoners, have more confidence to report domestic and sexual abuse – and to know that when they come forward, action will be taken.’
Michelle said Carrick, who was in his 20s at the time of her alleged rape, was a ‘womaniser’ who would ‘slap a woman’s a**e as they walked past’ or ‘blow kisses’ at females.
However, she noted that ‘quite a few male police officers did that.’
Michelle told the newspaper she was initially ‘flattered’ when Carrick began flirting with her, but quickly noticed his controlling behaviours.
She said he would keep tabs on what she was doing and who she was socialising with, as well as lock arms with her to ‘perhaps signal to people, “she’s mine.”‘
Michelle said Carrick would flirt with many women, but didn’t allow her to do the same. She said that she was ‘exclusive to him’ but the pair never labelled their relationship.
One night, after the pair finished working a long shift, Carrick reportedly invited Michelle back to his London home and raped her.
‘It wasn’t violent but it was forced,’ Michelle told The Times. ‘I said “no” numerous times but for him it was a “yes”.’
Michelle said Carrick, (pictured) who was in his 20s at the time of her alleged rape, was a ‘womaniser’ who would ‘slap a woman’s a**e as they walked past’ or ‘blow kisses’ at females
Michelle believed that had she spoken out about the incident at the time, ‘it would have probably ruined my career.’ She said Met Police was ‘very male-dominated’ and that ‘women weren’t encouraged to speak up about officers’ misconduct’
Police forces in England and Wales record the highest ever number of rapes and sexual offences in 2022: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
There were 199,021 sex crimes logged by forces in the year to September 2022, according to ONS figures
After the alleged attack, the pair had to work together for two weeks – which Michelle described as being ‘difficult’ – before they returned to their role at police stations ‘in opposite parts of London.’
Michelle took steps to ensure she was never alone with Carrick and refused to acknowledge his presence. She claims he also ignored her and after they returned to their respective posts she ‘never saw him in person again.’
The next time Michelle saw Carrick was when he was mentioned in a news report in October 2021, after a first victim had accused him of rape.
Michelle said she ‘instantly recognised him’ and was left in ‘shock.’
The publicity of the case ultimately inspired other women come forward, including Michelle.
The officer said she didn’t initially see herself as a victim because ‘I was a police officer.’
She also feels ‘guilty’ because if she had reported her rape ‘maybe I could have prevented Carrick’s attacks on more victims.’
Michelle said she knows that even if she had reported the attack nearly 20 years ago, that it is unlikely much would have come of it considering ‘very few rape cases made it to court at that time.’
She also believed that had she spoken out about the incident, ‘it would have probably ruined my career.’
She said the force was ‘very male-dominated’ and that ‘women weren’t encouraged to speak up about officers’ misconduct.’
She says female officers were reminded they were ‘cops’ and not ‘victims.’
Carrick, pictured here in an artists impression in court, was exposed as one of Britain’s most prolific rapists last week after admitting 49 charges against a dozen women, including 24 counts of rape, while serving with the force between 2003 and 2020
Carrick (pictured) faced complaints about his behaviour before he joined the Met in 2001, then again as a probationer in 2002 and several times throughout his policing career until 2021. He was only suspended from duty in October 2021 when arrested for rape
Carrick attacked at least a dozen women over an 18-year period throughout his career with the Met, using his position to gain their trust and scare them into staying silent.
His pay was stopped when he pleaded guilty to the bulk of the criminal charges in December but there is no mechanism to strip him of his pension. Current rules only apply when crimes are directly connected to the offender’s police service.
The former armed officer faced complaints about his behaviour before he joined the Met in 2001, then again as a probationer in 2002 and several times throughout his policing career until 2021.
He was only suspended from duty in October 2021 when arrested for rape.
Sir Mark previously said weak policies and decisions meant Carrick was able to stay in the force for 20 years, despite repeated complaints being made against him.
Now, more than 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers and staff previously accused of domestic violence and sexual offences are having the allegations reviewed in the wake of Carrick’s case.
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