BRIAN FREEMAN, THE BRUTAL SEX OFFENDER FROM BRENTFORD, CAUGHT AFTER TERRORIZING TEENS ON A HOUSEBOAT

On February 25, 1992, a horrifying case of sexual violence unfolded involving a 13-year-old boy and girl who fell victim to a maniacal predator in Brentford. The offender, later identified as Brian Freeman, subjected the young teenagers to a series of terrifying and brutal assaults at knifepoint after luring them onto a houseboat. The incident left the children traumatized and desperate for escape.

According to court proceedings, Freeman, aged 50 at the time, then proceeded to tie the frightened children together and abandoned them on the boat. Despite their efforts to escape, the children managed to break free and flee the vessel, but Freeman had already vanished into the shadows by the time authorities were alerted. The police launched an extensive investigation, which proved fruitless for weeks until a breakthrough occurred.

In a significant development, police released a video of Freeman, who was known to the public through a broadcast on TV's Crimewatch. The footage showed the long-haired man, who was later identified as Freeman, and it led to his swift arrest just two days after the broadcast. The authorities revealed that Freeman had a history of roaming across the country, taking on various casual jobs, and attacking victims before disappearing into the night.

Freeman, who was born under the name Barrington Auger, had changed his identity multiple times, also being known as David Nolan and Robert Trevillian. In August 1990, he took employment as a welder at a boatyard located at Brentford Docks, where he resided on a nearby houseboat, as detailed by prosecutor Miss Rebecca Poulet. Freeman claimed to be from Cornwall and was locally known in Brentford as 'Cornish Bob.'

On May 28 of the previous year, Freeman encountered the two children in Brentford High Street and invited them to join him for a trip on a second boat he had access to. The children followed him to the dock, where Freeman allowed them onto the vessel, promising to meet them later onboard. Inside the cluttered and untidy cabin, the boy discovered a sheath knife labeled 'Crocodile Hunter,' which Freeman later used to hold the children hostage.

Freeman then sailed the boat along the Grand Union Canal to a secluded spot near Osterley. Inside the boat, he pulled the curtains, claiming that 'people get nosy.' During this ordeal, Freeman offered to sell the knife, claiming it was worth £70, but then told the boy he could have it for free if he did 'something.' When the children expressed a desire to leave and get some fresh air, Freeman's demeanor changed dramatically. He became aggressive, pointing the knife at them and ordering the boy to lie face down on the seat while instructing the girl to remove her clothes.

Under threat of the knife, the terrified girl complied, standing naked except for her socks. Freeman held the blade across her throat and touched her cheek with it, causing her to beg him to leave her alone. Despite her pleas, Freeman attempted to rape her. Her friend, still lying face down, tried to comfort her by clutching her hand during the assault.

The girl, overwhelmed with fear, begged to be released, assuring Freeman that they wouldn't tell anyone. However, Freeman, who claimed he would soon be in Ireland, continued his sickening attack. Over the next half hour, he sexually assaulted the girl repeatedly. Her friend was then ordered to undress, and the girl was indecently touched by the boy. Freeman even tried to force the children to have sex with each other. When this attempt failed, he committed a serious sexual assault on the girl.

Before leaving, Freeman bound the children with their own belts and a piece of plastic tubing, warning them not to move for ten minutes because 'he would be watching.' The children, feeling the boat drifting and fearing they were near a lock, struggled free, scrambled ashore, and flagged down a passing boat. The young boy, still clutching the knife out of fear, was so terrified that he kept hold of it until the boat stopped. The crew offered to take the children to Hammersmith, but they ultimately traveled by bus and confided in their parents about the ordeal.

When police efforts to locate Freeman proved unsuccessful, his employer handed over a video recording showing Freeman at a Christmas party. This footage was broadcast on September 12, leading to Freeman's arrest on September 14. During his time on the run, Freeman had worked in Marylebone and later moved to a new job in Holland Park. He denied any memory of the incident, even dismissively pointing to his groin and claiming, 'Nothing works down there anyway.' Police also discovered that Freeman was wanted in connection with the rape of a mentally disabled woman in Cornwall. Following the TV broadcast, two other women came forward claiming they had been raped by him, but the prosecution did not pursue these allegations, citing a lack of supporting evidence.

Freeman admitted to attempted rape, committing an unnatural act, and inciting a child to commit indecency with another. The court also learned of his previous convictions dating back to the 1960s for multiple indecent assaults on young girls in Romney and Plymouth. Detective Inspector Thomas Lovering described Freeman as a transient who traveled extensively across England, often disappearing immediately after committing an offense.

Judge Geoffrey Grigson remanded Freeman for psychiatric evaluation but warned that a substantial prison sentence was highly likely, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to society.