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David Carrick: Met Police officer 'raped Tinder date after she felt pressured to get drunk'

File photo dated 3/2/2017 of the New Scotland Yard sign outside the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police. The Metropolitan Police are investigating whether Wayne Couzens committed more crimes before he kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard as the force vowed to make the streets safer for women and girls. Issue date: Friday October 1, 2021.
A Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with rape. (PA)

A Metropolitan Police officer raped a woman he met through Tinder after she felt pressured to get drunk, a court has heard.

PC David Carrick, 46, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was charged with rape as he appeared via video link at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The court heard that Carrick “emphatically denies” raping the woman after the pair went for drinks in St Albans on 4 September last year.

Carrick, who is currently suspended from duty and appeared via video link from a Stevenage police station, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on 1 November.

The court heard the alleged victim came forward following the whole life sentence handed down last week to former police officer Wayne Couzens for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.

Carrick was arrested on Saturday and charged on Sunday.

The court heard that Carrick is based with the Metropolitan Police’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, the armed unit stationed in Westminster, and is responsible for the protection of sensitive sites such as Downing Street. Couzens worked in the same unit.

PC David Carrick appeared via video link at St Albans Magistrates' Court. (Google)
PC David Carrick appeared via video link at St Albans Magistrates' Court. (Google)

The court heard Carrick met the woman on dating site Tinder.

Mark Fleckney, prosecuting, said: “They first met on September 4 of last year when they went to a public house in St Albans.

“Mr Carrick had asked whether she could come to the injured party’s house, but said she would rather meet him in town.

“Mr Carrick had ordered a bottle of wine which she doesn’t drink, but felt pressured to drink it as he had paid for that wine.

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“The conversation then went on to what Mr Carrick did and she confirmed that he was a Metropolitan Police officer.

“Indeed he showed the injured party his identification card. He said he worked for the Metropolitan Police firearms division and that he guarded a number of important people including the prime minister.

“He confirmed he lived in Stevenage and also owned a snake.”

The court heard the officer took the woman to the Premier Inn in St Albans where he was staying, where the alleged offence occurred.

Ryan Dowding, defending Carrick, said: “The two met on Tinder, a dating app, and they had arranged to go to a pub.

“Having consumed alcohol at the pub, and then going to another pub, more alcohol was consumed.

“Mr Carrick says no such sex occurred. He emphatically denies the allegations.”

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring, who appeared via video link at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, remanded the police officer in custody.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick makes a statement to the media outside the Old Bailey in London, after police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, was handed a whole life order at the Old Bailey for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard. Picture date: Thursday September 30, 2021.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she is 'deeply concerned' an officer has been charged with rape. (PA)

He said: “You will be remanded in custody until you appear at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on 1 November.”

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Earlier, Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said: “I am deeply concerned to hear the news today that an officer from the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command has been arrested and now charged with this serious offence.

“I fully recognise the public will be very concerned too.

“Criminal proceedings must now take their course so I am unable to comment any further at this stage.”