A man who broke into a woman’s home in Croydon with the intention of sexually assaulting her has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order. 

Frank Rawlings, 38, of Orpington, was sentenced to a hospital order of ‘indeterminate length’ at Woolwich Crown Court on December 8. 

Detective Constable Sarah Mead, who led the investigation, said in a statement: “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, gives a clear indication.”

Rawlings eventually pleaded guilty to trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence.

On September 8, 2022, the victim awoke in her living room to find Rawlings, a stranger with his trousers down, lying beside her and holding her waist. The woman shouted at him, and he fled the property.

The police were called and arrested Rawlings in the surrounding area. He was carrying a sex toy in his backpack. 

Rawlings refused to cooperate with the police and stayed silent under questioning. However, forensic testing of chewing gum on the victim’s sofa came back positive for Rawlings’s DNA, proof that he was on the property. 

Mead said: “The victim has been extremely brave in supporting this investigation and I hope now that legal proceedings have concluded, she can begin to move on from this distressing incident.

“Criminality targeting women and girls is a key priority for the Met, and we continue to strive to ensure we improve investigations and better support those who put their trust in us. I hope this conviction helps improve that trust.”