Hundreds urged to get tested for HIV as 'predatory' rapist convicted as police fear he has other victims

"Police have appealed for potential victims of a "predatory sex attacker to come forward after he was jailed for rape and reckless transmission of HIV. Police said their investigation began after a man reported that he had woken up to being raped after having met up socially with Carl. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said there were a "significant number of very vulnerable individuals who could be victim-survivors of rape"."

"Discussing Carl's offending at a media briefing at New Scotland Yard on Friday, Mr Basford said: "He is a predatory individual. "We have messages and content which would lead us to say that there are victims of rape out there who have not come forward to the police." The Metropolitan Police said Carl had been using dating apps over several years and officers believe there are 318 men that need to be identified and tested for HIV. Carl, who lived on Station Lane in Hornchurch, mainly met people at his home address from his local area of east London and Essex - including the areas of Havering, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham."

"Of those 400 men, police have already identified 82 males, with Mr Basford saying that some of those identified had tested positive for HIV. Acting Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Bishop said it was "very difficult" to assess the number of potential victims. Ms Bishop added: "He did target vulnerable people. "There's a lot of men on there that he spoke to who admitted they were vulnerable. "Some were unsure of their sexuality. Some of them, it was their first sexual contact.""

Police appealed for potential victims after a man reported waking up to being raped following a social meeting with Carl. Officers described Carl as predatory and said messages and content indicate there are victims who have not reported. Investigators found Carl used dating apps over several years and estimate 318 men may need identification and HIV testing. Between 2019 and 2023 he made around 400 digital contacts on Grindr and Scruff; 82 men have been identified so far and some have tested positive for HIV. Police expressed concern for vulnerable men who remain unidentified and urged them to come forward.

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