MAN ‘ENCOURAGED MEN TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT DRUGGED WOMEN’
A salesman from north London has been detained in connection with a worldwide network involved in drugging and assaulting women by their partners, according to The Telegraph.Darren Conway, aged 52 and a supplier of footwear and clothing based in Enfield, faces accusations of persuading others to sexually assault women while they were unconscious, sleeping, or drugged during the years 2025 and 2026.
On June 26, the Crown Prosecution Service formally charged Mr Conway with two counts of aiding or encouraging criminal offences.
He is among eight individuals who have been apprehended in the United Kingdom as part of a broader international investigation into an online forum where members shared explicit videos depicting the sexual abuse of women who were unconscious.
The National Crime Agency (NCA), which led the investigation, reported discovering a “truly international network” with suspects “located across numerous countries across all continents.” Neighbours of Mr Conway, who has two children, described him as a family-oriented person leading a “quiet and modest life” at his semi-detached residence.
As part of the operation, Scotland Yard arrested five men, including Mr Conway.
The other four individuals have been released on bail.
Additionally, West Yorkshire Police announced the arrest of two suspects aged 32 and 36 from Bradford and Leeds, respectively for possessing extreme pornography involving rape.
Both are currently on bail.
An ongoing investigation in Leeds related to a different victim has yet to result in any arrests, a police spokesperson confirmed.
This investigation was prompted by the case of Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman from France who chose to publicly reveal her identity during France’s largest-ever rape trial.
Her husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after orchestrating for 72 different men to sexually assault her 92 times while she was unconscious.
The NCA said that officers were working with dozens of countries including France, Germany, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and the US to try to identify nearly 300 people who they linked to the forum.
Images and videos of sedated women being sexually assaulted and raped, “sometimes by multiple offenders”, were shared in the group.
Members also exchanged “tips” and advised the best type of sedatives to use.
Mr Conway appeared at Highbury Corner magistrates’ court on the day he was charged and was remanded in custody.
He will next appear at Wood Green Crown Court on July 29.
