Who is Craig France and how long did the sexual predator get for his offences?
Here we take a look at his callous crimes, which are featured in the new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody.
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Who is Craig France?
Craig France is a 33-year-old man from Hammonds Drive, Peterborough.
He was convicted of a series of serious sexual offences against young women.
His crimes came to light in August 2024, when a woman reported to police that she had been raped by France two years previously.
She had only recently discovered that the sexual predator had filmed the attack.
The victim was given a shot of 'sambuca' in France's garden — next thing she knew she was in his bed with no memory of what had happened.
Triggering a wider investigation by Cambridgeshire Police, a disturbing pattern of predatory behaviour was uncovered, spanning from March 2022 to September 2023.
France targeted women in nightclubs, gaining their trust before inviting them back to his home under the pretence of after-parties.
Once there, he would ply his victims with alcohol, often to the point of unconsciousness or extreme intoxication.
He would then commit sexual offences against them, having set up hidden cameras in his property to secretly film and photograph his abject attacks.
Many of his victims were unconscious or asleep during the assaults, with police later finding more than 6,000 images and videos documenting his crimes — many of which involved unidentified women.
Trailer for 24 Hours in Police Custody
The investigation identified four women as victims, but officers believe there may be more who have not yet come forward.
DCI Helen Tebbit said: 'I would encourage anyone who thinks they might've been a victim of a sexual offence to contact us on 101 or via web chat on the force website.
"We take all reports of sexual offences very seriously.
'We have a dedicated team of specially trained officers ready to investigate allegations promptly, fully and professionally, and a network of partnership agencies and support services to offer assistance and support.'
You are misogynistic about women, which is deeply unattractive and concerning
Judge Mark Bishop
DC Em Scates added: 'It's clear France is a depraved and calculating sexual predator and a danger to women.
"It is one of the worst cases I have dealt with in 23 years of being a police officer."
Trial
France was arrested in September 2024 and initially denied the crimes, but later pleaded guilty at a hearing in February 2025.
His offences included rape, sexual assault, three counts of voyeurism and exposure.
The court heard that he recorded himself carrying out sexual acts on some of his victims while they were unable to consent.
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Sentencing
On 31 March 2025, France was sentenced to 10 years and seven months in prison.
He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and the court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his devices containing the illicit material.
Presiding at Cambridge Crown Court, Judge Mark Bishop said during sentencing: "The nature of those offences show you were predatory towards those women and, when they were incapacitated, you filmed them.
"Your comments showed no understanding of consent and you are on a journey of further understand of consent.
"You are misogynistic about women, which is deeply unattractive and concerning.
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"You accept you became obsessed with recording social activities, that developed into recording your sexual activities.
"You have an attraction to risky behaviour and I judge that in this case a sense of sexual entitlement, coupled with taking risks and poor self-esteem, is a toxic risk.
"You have not offended since being in a new relationship.
"That demonstrates the risk that is posed when a relationship ends.
"This is extraordinary behaviour to engage at the age of 33. You are a risk to society."
24 Hours in Police Custody
The investigation and subsequent conviction of Craig France will be featured in a two-part special of Channel 4 's 24 Hours in Police Custody.
The programme will provide an in-depth look at how France was brought to justice and the impact of his crimes on the victims and investigators involved.
The first episode is scheduled to air on C4 at 9 pm on Sunday, July 6, 2025, with the second part following at the same time on Monday, July 7, 2025.
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