Addiscombe Man Sentenced for Sexual Assault of Vulnerable Woman

Colin Ford, a painter and decorator from Fernhurst Road, Addiscombe, was sentenced to a 36-month supervision order at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Friday. This followed his guilty plea to three counts of sexual assault at an earlier hearing.

The court heard how Ford had lured a 61-year-old woman with learning difficulties into his work van in 2005, offering her a lift to Croydon. He then drove her to a secluded car park in Shirley Hills and sexually assaulted her.

Ford was identified through a DNA match taken for an unrelated case and linked to the assault through the police's national database. Arrested in April 2008, he confessed to the offences during questioning.

Detective Constable Rob Buckell of Croydon's Sapphire Unit stated, "Ford deliberately targeted a vulnerable woman, a pensioner with significant learning difficulties. He committed vile sexual acts against her, knowing she couldn't fully comprehend what was happening. DNA evidence collected during his arrest for another case proved crucial in solving this case. Without it, Ford may never have been found and brought to justice."

Yvonne Traynor, chief executive of Croydon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, criticized the sentence as too lenient. "It's barely a slap on the wrist. This sends a message to sex offenders that they can do whatever they want and get away with a supervision order as long as they admit their crime."