SERIAL rapist and sacked police officer David Carrick was jailed for more than 30 years today as a judge said that he had caused “irretrievable devastation” to his victims. 

The 48-year-old, who received the life sentence at Southwark Crown Court, must serve a minimum of 32 years before he can be considered for release. 

Mr Carrick pleaded guilty to 85 serious offences, including 48 rapes, sexual assaults, false imprisonment and coercive and controlling behaviour.

At the sentencing hearing, Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb said the former Metropolitan Police officer had taken “monstrous advantage” of his position in abusing women over a 17-year period. 

“You brazenly raped and sexually assaulted a number of women, some very brutally, and you behaved as if you were untouchable,” she told him.

“There is powerful and compelling evidence of irretrievable devastation in the lives of those you abused.

“One woman feels as if she has been lost for the last 19 years, encapsulating her experience with you as an encounter with evil which has caused long-lasting psychological harm.”

The court heard earlier how Mr Carrick had abused his powers as a police officer to gain women’s trust and scare them into silence. 

He held a handgun to the head of one of his victims and sent another a photograph of himself with a work-issue firearm, saying: “Remember I am the boss.”

Mr Carrick was allowed to keep his job despite coming to the police’s attention over nine separate incidents spanning two decades, including one before he joined the force in 2001.

The court heard that several women had decided not to report the abuse because, since Mr Carrick was a police officer, they feared that they would not be believed.

The disturbing case has prompted demands for police reform. 

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper argued that the case called for the “strongest possible action on police standards.”

She said: “A major overhaul of police standards is desperately needed, but there has been a serious failure by Conservative ministers to take action.

“After Sarah Everard’s murder, we were promised change.

“But there are still no compulsory vetting requirements and progress on driving up standards has been far too slow, letting down the victims and police officers who work so hard to keep communities safe.”