Jailed lorry driver may have more victims - police

Craig France has been jailed after admitting a number of sex offences against women he invited to parties at his home

A senior detective has warned that more women might have been victims of a sex offender who is starting a jail term.

Lorry driver Craig France, 33, of Hammonds Drive, Peterborough, was jailed for 10 years and seven months on Monday after admitting offences against four women.

Det Ch Insp Helen Tebbit says police are "absolutely open" to the possibility that there could be more victims.

She said France was "very active" in the Peterborough area and travelled across the UK when working.

Det Ch Insp Helen Tebbit says other women may have fallen victim to Craig France

He had raped one woman and admitted sex assault and voyeurism - and also admitted exposing himself in public in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

Jacqueline Carey KC, prosecuting, said France had committed offences after inviting people back to parties at his home after going out drinking in Peterborough.

The judge Mark Bishop heard how he knew his victims, had filmed some offences without the victims' knowledge, and shared footage.

Beth O'Reilly KC, who represented France, said the case was not "straightforward".

She said following a relationship break-up in 2019, France had led a "rather hedonistic lifestyle".

Ms O'Reilly said it would be wrong to suggest France, who had a partner who was supporting him, was a "monster".

She said France's home was known as a "party house".

Craig France was jailed after a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday

Det Ch Insp Tebbit described France's "sexual behaviour" as "abhorrent".

"Clearly he has shown himself to be highly dangerous in the way in which he approaches victims and what he thinks is acceptable," she told journalists.

"We are absolutely open to the possibility that there could be further victims.

"If anyone feels that they have been affected by Craig France in terms of his offending behaviour, or have any information that they think would be relevant to us in our investigation, then they should come forward to the police."

'Travel'

The detective said she could not put numbers on the amount of possible victims but said France had travelled "quite extensively across the UK".

"I think we know that through Craig France's lifestyle, he was very active in the Peterborough area," she said.

"It may be that people are concerned about any involvement they have had with him.

"We know as a lorry driver he did travel across the country.

"Again if anyone outside of Cambridgeshire has any concerns in relation to his behaviour towards them, then I would encourage them to come forward to the police.

"During the course of our investigation we have reached out to other force areas and it is absolutely part of that investigation to try and ascertain whether there could be offences in other areas."