In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 42-year-old Derek Carrick—of Holehouse Drive, Knightswood—was spared a prison sentence despite the “horrendous” neglect of three young girls over a 32-month period. Carrick appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court where a jury unanimously convicted him of wilfully neglecting and ill-treating children then aged 10, nine, and three. It was reported that the investigation established the girls were kept in a “filthy and smelly” flat in Kirkton Avenue between February 2011 and October 2013, where conditions were so dire that one child ate cat food and another consumed toothbrush bristles due to extreme hunger.
The investigation established that the property was strewn with overflowing cat litter, dirty dishes, and insects in the bath. The prosecution reported that the eldest girl was bullied at school because of her appearance and smell, and was forced to go without basic sanitary products as Carrick claimed he had “no money.” Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the youngest girl was regularly “slapped” by Carrick for waking him or asking for a light because she was scared of the dark, while the middle child was forced to beg for leftover snacks from her school to survive.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Carrick had a relevant criminal history, including a 1997 conviction for lewd and libidinous practices toward young children. The investigation established that while there was no medical evidence of permanent physical injury or clinical malnutrition, the “detrimental effect” on the children’s welfare was undeniable. The prosecution reported that the children lived in a state of constant fear and deprivation, with the youngest victim describing a living room “covered in clothes and boxes” where Carrick slept while the children fended for themselves.
Sheriff-led proceedings at Glasgow Sheriff Court concluded with Sheriff Martin Jones QC imposing a Community Payback Order (CPO) as a “direct alternative” to custody. For his actions in Knightswood and the “deplorable” conditions inflicted on the three sisters, Carrick was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and remain under supervision for two years. The judge noted that while the threshold for custody was met, the sentencing guidelines required him to weigh the lack of physical injury against the gravity of the neglect.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Glasgow and Lanarkshire, the status of Derek Carrick as of April 10, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: NOT INCARCERATED (Sentenced to a Community Payback Order in 2018; CPO requirements concluded).
- Supervision Status: EXPIRED (Completed two-year mandatory supervision period).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active (Based on the 1997 conviction and subsequent risk assessments).
- DBS Status: Placed on the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children in Scotland).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Wilful neglect and ill-treatment of children).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court; investigated by Police Scotland.
- Criminal Record: Forced children to eat cat food and toothbrush bristles; Previously convicted of lewd and libidinous practices; Kept children in a flat infested with bugs and cat litter.
- Origin: Knightswood, Glasgow.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Carrick is managed as a registered sex offender with a history of child neglect within the Glasgow area. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his “prior history of sexual deviancy combined with extreme physical neglect”—his management is a priority for the Glasgow City Council Social Work department and Police Scotland. Authorities state that his history of blaming financial hardship for the starvation of his children identifies him as an individual who requires statutory oversight to ensure he is never again in a position of primary care for minors.
As a convicted child abuser, the 50-year-old’s details remain on the national database to prevent him from accessing regulated work. Authorities state that the 2018 sentence serves as a final warning regarding his conduct toward the vulnerable. Any reports of further neglect in Knightswood or elsewhere, or any unauthorised proximity to the survivors, will result in immediate judicial review to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from a man who demonstrated a persistent and “callous intent” to ignore the basic survival needs of three young girls.
QUESTION – Given that the offender had a previous conviction for “lewd and libidinous practices” and forced children to eat cat food, do you believe that “Direct Alternatives to Prison” should be legally prohibited for any offender with a prior sexual criminal record?
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