Craig France jailed for 10 years after filming and abusing unconscious women; East London in shock over brutal stabbing with no arrests made
A chilling double blow of sexual predation and street violence has shaken communities across the UK—from the sickening crimes of Craig France in Peterborough to a broad-daylight stabbing in East London that remains unsolved.
In Peterborough, 34-year-old lorry driver Craig France was this year unmasked as a serial sexual predator who secretly filmed young women in vulnerable states—often after nights out—before abusing them in his home. His arrest and conviction were laid bare in Channel 4’s latest 24 Hours in Police Custody special, Nightclub Predator, exposing a man who carefully cultivated a facade of fun and charm to win women’s trust, only to violate it behind closed doors.
The horror unravelled last August when a woman bravely reported a sexual assault. That single complaint triggered a police raid on France’s home, where officers uncovered a harrowing collection: over 6,000 images and videos, many showing unconscious or sleeping women being violated. Hidden cameras were installed throughout the property, making the space a sinister trap.
Police suspect France targeted women returning from nights out, many of whom may have no idea they were assaulted. Despite the overwhelming evidence, he initially applied for bail, prompting a frantic race by detectives to prevent him from walking free.
In March 2025, France was finally sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after admitting to multiple charges including rape, indecent exposure, assault, and voyeurism involving four identified victims between 2021 and 2023. Judge Bishop condemned him as a serious public threat, stressing the long-term psychological damage to the victims.
But the court revelations may only scratch the surface.
Embed from Getty Images“We know there may be more women out there who were filmed and abused without their knowledge,” a Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said. “We urge anyone with concerns to come forward—no matter how long ago it may have been.”
France’s victims are now supported by specialist officers, but detectives are still combing through footage to identify others.
Meanwhile, in Chingford Mount, East London, a community has been left reeling after a 26-year-old man was fatally stabbed in a shocking daylight attack. The incident, which unfolded in front of stunned locals and families, remains unsolved, despite the presence of forensic teams and urgent police appeals.
Police have yet to make an arrest, and residents are demanding answers. Images from the crime scene showed officers working behind cordons as onlookers struggled to process the horror. Paramedics fought to save the young man’s life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving loved ones shattered and neighbours paralysed with fear.
“This is a quiet area, full of families. How can someone be murdered in daylight and just vanish?” asked one local resident, echoing growing unease in the area.
Community leaders are calling for urgent action and for residents to break the wall of silence that often protects violent offenders. There’s rising concern that knife violence is becoming disturbingly normalised, and that this tragedy might soon be another unsolved statistic in London’s worsening crime wave.
As East London mourns and Peterborough grapples with the fallout of a predator’s betrayal, one message is loud and clear: justice must be swift, and silence must not shield the guilty.