Victim left suffering night terrors after Newark man posed as police officer and tried to suffocate him

The court was told that on May 27 last year, the partner of Carter’s ex-girlfriend believed he was being followed as he drove home to Bretton, Peterborough, at about 6.15am, having visited the woman’s home in Bourne.

The victim, who had been dating the woman for just a few weeks, recalled thinking it was odd but when he later saw the car empty, he put it down to coincidence.

But the following day outside his home he was approached by Carter, who claimed he was a police officer conducting an investigation into drug dealing and that the woman was a suspect.

Dressed in plain clothes, carrying a bag and wearing a lanyard, the victim believed him and let Carter into the property, where he even removed his shoes because the victim had a new carpet.

Carter asked him questions about the woman and their relationship, writing the responses in a notepad.

He then told the victim he would need to search him and, as part of the procedure, he would need to be restrained.

“I had no reason not to believe him; what he was saying seemed logical,” the victim said.

Believing him to be a police officer, the victim agreed, and Carter proceeded to bind his hands behind his back with a cable tie.

With the man’s back to him, Carter produced a plastic sheet and began trying to suffocate him.

“I had my hands tied behind my back and then all of a sudden this plastic sheet was over my head and he was trying to suffocate me,” the victim said.

“I was trying to bite through the plastic sheet. I didn’t know what to do.

“I managed to snap the cable ties off and shouted for my son.”

The man’s son, who is in his 20s, came downstairs and saw Carter brandishing an axe. Together, father and son managed to restrain him on the floor and call police.

When officers searched his car, they discovered a noose and a roll of duct tape.

“It was absolutely terrifying,” the victim said. “It was like something you see in a film, only it was real and it happened and I’ve got to live with it for the rest of my life.”

Carter had previously been in a relationship with the woman for about a year, until early in 2020.

The victim said in the run-up to the attack, parcels including an engagement ring were delivered to his partner’s home, and her social media and email accounts were hacked.

It was only after the victim told her about the incident that the pair realised Carter was responsible.

Carter pleaded guilty to attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle with intent and having an article with a blade or point.

A sentence of nine years was reduced to seven because Carter pleaded guilty.

The victim said: “The sentence is jarring. In all likelihood, he’ll be out in 3½ years but I have got to live with what happened for the rest of my life.

“I was lucky, it could have been a lot worse.

“I just want people to be aware of what kind of man he is. He is dangerous.”

Initially the victim just tried to get on with things but after suffering night terrors, he decided to get help.

He is now undergoing therapy but he and his partner, who he had been with for just a few weeks when the incident happened, are still together.

“Now the court case has happened, we can try to move forward,” the victim said. “This is not going to beat me.

“But I want everyone, and particularly women, to know what he’s like.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to endure what we have gone though.

“It has been a nightmare.”

Speaking after he was sentenced, DC Fiona Palmer of Cambridgeshire Police said: “Only Carter will know exactly what he had planned that day.

“It is a relief the victim and his son were able to restrain him at the scene and he has now been brought to justice.

“Thankfully, incidents like this are rare.

“However, if you are ever in any doubt about the identity of a police officer please ask to see their ID, and if you are still suspicious you can call 101 for confirmation.”