By Matt Watts

Copyright yahoo

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.

Jonathan Carl, 42, was sentenced in June to 17 years in prison after being convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

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.

Mr Basford said that between 2019 and 2023 Carl made around “400 digital contacts” through the dating apps Grindr and Scruff who he “met or was close to meeting”.

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.”

She added: “Our investigation uncovered the scale of Carl’s offending and ensured he was brought to justice. But we remain extremely concerned about the wellbeing of those who have not yet been identified. We believe as many as 318 men may be a victim, and might need to come forward for testing and support.

“You may have met Carl through an online dating platform, or visited his home address in Hornchurch, which is distinctively located above a fish and chip shop.

“Your health and wellbeing are our absolute priority. We are working closely with NHS partners and charities to ensure anyone affected can access confidential testing, advice, and support. Please be assured you are not alone – we are here to help.”

Carl was described at his sentencing as “prolific” and “only interested in his own sexual desires”.

Ms Bishop said that Carl, who had worked as a hairdresser, was “meeting three or four people a day on some occasions”.

Carl was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court of one count of rape and one count of section 20 grievous bodily harm of reckless transmission of HIV.

He was served with a 15-year sexual prevention order under which he has to notify police within three days of having a new sexual partner and has to disclose his HIV status if he is not taking his medication.

:Anyone who may have had contact with Jonathan Carl is urged to contact detectives directly on 0207175273, you can also email, survivors@met.police.uk.

To contact police, you can dial 101 or via the police’s online reporting system and state reference CAD2972/19Sept25.

You can also seek confidential support through NHS sexual health services or charities by following these links: NHS, SHL, Galop, Positive East, NAT, The Havens or SARCs.

To remain anonymous, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.