Croydon Man Sentenced to Hospital Order for Intrusive Break-in with Sexual Intent

CROYDON MAN SENTENCED TO HOSPITAL ORDER FOR INTRUSIVE BREAK-IN WITH SEXUAL INTENT

A woman in Croydon awoke to find a stranger in her home with his trousers around his ankles.

Frank Rawlings, aged 38, was convicted of trespassing with the intent to commit a sexual offence.

He was sentenced to an indeterminate hospital order after pleading guilty.

The victim had fallen asleep on her sofa when she was awoken by a man's arm around her waist.

When she turned around, she found Rawlings, whom she had never met before, lying next to her with his trousers around his ankles.

She immediately shouted at him to leave, which he did, and police were called.

Officers found Rawlings nearby with a backpack that contained a sex toy.

Fortunately, the woman was not sexually assaulted.

Rawlings refused to answer questions after his arrest, but forensic analysis of chewing gum found on the sofa linked him to the scene in Croydon in the early hours of September 8, 2022.

Rawlings, who resides in Orpington, London, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.

Detective Constable Sarah Mead commented: 'This was an extremely distressing incident where a woman woke to find a total stranger in her house.

Frank Rawlings has refused to tell us what his intentions were, but the fact that he was partly undressed, lying next to the woman on her sofa, indicates a serious breach of her safety.

Thanks to her bravery, Rawlings was apprehended and convicted.

The victim's support has been commendable, and the court's ruling aims to help her move on.'