The youngest known survivor of serial sex offender and former Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick has made a powerful public appeal, urging other victims to find their voice and report his crimes.
A childhood stolen and a plea for courage
Now a mother in her 40s, the woman was targeted by Carrick when she was just a 12-year-old schoolgirl in the late 1980s. In an exclusive interview following a court ruling last week, she revealed the devastating long-term impact of his abuse and issued a direct message to others who may have suffered. "Don't let him bully you. He's got no hold over you. For your own sanity, you've got to speak up," she told the Mirror.
Her call to action comes after Carrick, 50, was handed a 37th life sentence for historical offences against her and another woman. This latest sentencing brings the total number of his known victims to 14. Carrick is already serving a minimum term of 32 years after pleading guilty to a staggering 71 offences, which included 48 rapes committed over a 17-year period.
Systemic failures and a warning for the future
The survivor detailed a critical missed opportunity to stop the predatory officer decades ago. She disclosed that she reported the abuse to an NHS counsellor 35 years ago, yet no action was taken. This failure allowed Carrick to later join the Metropolitan Police, where he used his position to intimidate and abuse.
She expressed a firm belief that other dangerous individuals remain hidden within the force, warning that its toxic culture has not been fully eradicated. "There is another David," she stated, highlighting ongoing concerns about vetting and accountability in Britain's largest police service.
Seeking closure after decades of trauma
The woman described how the abuse shattered her trust in others, severely damaged her mental health, and strained family relationships. When news of Carrick's initial convictions emerged, the resurgence of trauma led her to start drinking and caused a temporary breakdown in her relationship with her children.
Despite the pain of the last three decades, the recent guilty verdict has provided a sense of closure. She is now determined to leave the trauma behind, focus on her family, and use her experience to advocate for other victims of sexual violence. "If I can help even just one person, I will," she affirmed, embodying a resolve to transform personal suffering into support for others.
