Met Police officer David Carrick faces trial accused of 21 counts of rape over 17 years

MET Police officer David Carrick will face trial after being charged with 44 offences against 12 women.

Carrick, 47, is accused of sexually assaulting his victims over a 17 year period – and has been charged with 21 counts of rape.

The serving cop allegedly carried out the attacks while a serving officer for the Metropolitan Police.

He today pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him at Snaresbrook Crown Court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh.

Carrick, of Stevenage, Herts, was first charged with raping a woman at a Premier Inn on September 5, 2020, after meeting her on a Tinder date.

Prosecutors revealed in March that he was then facing 41 allegations, including 21 counts of rape.

Last week the Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorised Hertfordshire Constabulary to charge Carrick with three more counts of rape.

Prosecutors say the three additional counts relate to one new complainant and are alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2009.

Carrick has now been charged with 44 offences against 12 alleged victims between 2003 and 2020.

These include 21 counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, nine of sexual assault and two counts of false imprisonment.

Carrick is also three counts of coercive and controlling behaviour, five counts of assault by penetration, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and a charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb set a trial date of February 6 at Southwark Crown Court with a time estimate of eight weeks.

The judge said: "This is a substantial trial of very serious criminal charges. The issue in the case is going to be centrally consent in respect of the dozen complainants."

Carrick, who sat behind a desk with his hands clasped in front of his face throughout the hearing , was remanded in custody.

Three more women came forward following his first court appearance and he was charged with 19 additional offences.

Carrick, a serving police officer based within the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, has denied the charges against him.

A Met Police spokesman said: “We recognise the very serious nature of the offences that Carrick is accused of.

"The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards continues to monitor developments closely and misconduct proceedings will continue following the conclusion of the criminal case.

"We will continue to provide whatever support we can to Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service as they prepare for the upcoming trial."