Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Sam Russell

‘Depraved’ sexual predator who raped woman and secretly filmed others is jailed

Craig France has been jailed for 10 years and seven months (Cambridgeshire Police/PA) -

A “depraved and calculating sexual predator” who raped a woman and secretly filmed three others in his home has been jailed for 10 years and seven months.

Craig France, 33, would deliberately pursue women in the Peterborough area late at night, before luring them to “after-parties” at his home, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Once there, France would ply his victims with drink before committing sexual offences against them, offences which he filmed and photographed.

Cambridgeshire Police said that there may be other victims who have yet to be identified.

They said France, of Hammonds Drive, Fengate, Peterborough, admitted at an earlier hearing at Cambridge Crown Court to rape, sexual assault, three counts of voyeurism and exposure.

He was sentenced at the same court on Monday to 10 years and seven months years in prison, police said.

He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Em Scates, who investigated, said: “It’s clear France is a depraved and calculating sexual predator and a danger to women.”

Police said France targeted young women at nightclubs and took them to his home where he had set up hidden cameras.

France recorded himself carrying out sexual acts on some of his victims while they were unconscious or sleeping.

His offending came to light in August last year after a woman reported he had raped her two years previously, and she later became aware he had filmed it.

The victim had been given a shot of “sambuca” by France, while they were in his garden, and the next thing she knew, she woke up in his bed with no recollection of what had happened, but knew something untoward had taken place, police said.

Officers found more than 6,000 images and videos of several unidentified women who were secretly filmed at his home between March 2022 and September 2023.

They also found the video which showed the victim being raped by France, while she appeared to be “lifeless”.

It showed France carrying the victim, who was unable to stand, before dropping her in a hot tub and then dragging her on a concrete floor.

A further three victims were identified from the videos and images.

Officers also found a clip where France was naked in daylight by the side of a road in the Broxbourne area of Hertfordshire.

Andrew Young, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Craig France is a deplorable predator who targeted young women and established their trust, before ruthlessly exploiting them.

“By filming and photographing the offences, France built up an extensive set of images which were stored in his phone, all kept for his own sexual gratification.

“He and he alone is to blame for his disgusting offending.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.