A “depraved and calculating sexual predator” who raped a woman and secretly filmed three others at his home has been jailed for 10 years and seven months.
Craig France, 33, prowled nightclubs in the Peterborough area, deliberately targeting young women late at night before luring them to so-called “after-parties” at his home, where he had set up hidden cameras.
Once inside, he plied his victims with alcohol before committing sexual offences, which he then filmed and photographed for his own gratification, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Cambridgeshire Police believe there may be further victims who have not yet been identified.
France, of Hammonds Drive, Fengate, Peterborough, admitted to rape, sexual assault, three counts of voyeurism, and exposure at an earlier hearing at Cambridge Crown Court. On Monday, he was sentenced at the same court and handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
‘A danger to women’
Detective Constable Em Scates, who led the investigation, described France as a dangerous predator.
“It’s clear France is a depraved and calculating sexual predator and a danger to women,” she said.
Police revealed that he used his home as a trap, installing hidden cameras to secretly film women. He also recorded himself committing sexual acts on victims while they were unconscious or asleep.
His crimes came to light in August last year when a woman reported that he had raped her two years earlier. She later discovered that he had filmed the assault.
The victim had been given a shot of sambuca by France while they were in his garden. The next thing she knew, she woke up in his bed with no recollection of what had happened, but an overwhelming sense that something had gone terribly wrong.
Thousands of secret recordings
A police investigation uncovered more than 6,000 images and videos of unidentified women secretly filmed in France’s home between March 2022 and September 2023.
Among the footage, officers found the video of the victim being raped. The footage reportedly showed France carrying the unconscious woman—who was unable to stand—before dropping her into a hot tub and later dragging her across a concrete floor.
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Further investigations led to the identification of three additional victims.
Police also discovered a separate clip showing France naked by the side of a road in the Broxbourne area of Hertfordshire in broad daylight.
‘Ruthless exploitation’
Andrew Young, from the Crown Prosecution Service, condemned France’s actions, describing him as a manipulative predator who built trust with young women only to exploit them.
“Craig France is a deplorable predator who targeted young women and established their trust before ruthlessly exploiting them,” Young said.
“By filming and photographing the offences, France built up an extensive collection of images stored on his phone, all for his own sexual gratification.
“He and he alone is to blame for his disgusting offending.”
Police have urged any other potential victims to come forward.
