ROY KING FROM WEST NORWOOD SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL RAPE IN CROWDON AND CRYSTAL PALACE PARK

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Roy King, a resident of West Norwood, was convicted and sentenced for a heinous sexual assault that took place in the Croydon area. The incident involved a vulnerable 18-year-old homeless individual who fell victim to King's predatory actions during a series of manipulative encounters.

According to court proceedings, the assault occurred on July 29 of the previous year. King, then 46 years old, took a bus numbered 149 from West Norwood to Croydon, where he lured the young man into a trap. The victim was persuaded to accompany King to Crystal Palace Park under false pretenses, with King promising him a safe place to stay for the night. Instead, the situation took a dark turn as King subjected the young man to a brutal rape at knifepoint in the secluded surroundings of the park.

Following the assault, King maintained a calm demeanor as he traveled with his terrified victim. The court heard that he caught a train from Crystal Palace to West Norwood, during which he coldly told the young man, “Remember, this didn’t happen,” attempting to erase the trauma inflicted. The victim, overwhelmed by the experience, was so deeply affected that he attempted to take his own life just two days later by overdosing on pills.

Judge Timothy Stow QC addressed the court, emphasizing the severity of the crime. He pointed out that King had gone to considerable lengths to carry out the assault, including arming himself with a knife and deliberately luring the victim into a quiet wooded area where he could commit the rape undisturbed. The judge also highlighted King's history of previous convictions, which included numerous sexual offenses against young boys as young as six years old, underscoring the danger he posed to society.

King’s criminal record was a significant factor in his sentencing. He was told he would not be eligible for parole until he had served at least five and a half years of his sentence, though the possibility remains that he could serve even longer. The court made it clear that his actions represented a serious threat to young males, and his behavior in targeting vulnerable individuals was deeply concerning.

In a tragic update, it was reported that Roy King passed away in a hospital on January 30, 2023, due to a pulmonary embolism. His death occurred nearly two years after his conviction, closing a dark chapter in the ongoing efforts to address and prevent such heinous crimes in the West Norwood and Croydon communities.