Former foster carer jailed for abusing five girls

A former foster carer has been jailed for 30 years after he drugged and raped young girls and lulled them into a "false sense of security" to abuse them in his north-east London home.

Bradley Dilsworth, 69, was convicted of 22 child sex offences between 2002 and 2010, including one girl he raped when she was aged between five and eight after her parents left her with him.

He went undetected for years while "concealing his true nature behind the image of a trusted and approachable adult", the Metropolitan Police said.

The father "systematically groomed, abused and raped" the children, prosecutor Emma Fielding told Isleworth Crown Court on Friday.

The former foster carer, who also worked as a lorry driver, allowed the children to smoke cannabis and drink alcohol at his home in Phoenix Close, Walthamstow.

Two of his victims were unconscious when they were attacked, the court heard.

One believed she was in a relationship with Dilsworth and he frequently raped her during that time.

The only victim to give an impact statement in person said: "As a child you're not meant to be exposed to any intimate relationships or understand what it is supposed to be.

"Unfortunately I was forced too soon to be a part of that world.

"I feel disgusting, I feel dirty, some days I want to scrub myself raw in the shower to wash it all away.

"It shaped who I became before I ever had the chance to learn that myself."

Judge Edward Franklin told Friday's sentencing Dilsworth showed "no evidence of remorse".

Dilsworth was living in the same house where his offending had taken place when he was arrested, the force said.

The Met said it uncovered an "Aladdin's cave" of electrical devices in Dilsworth's home, and internal CCTV footage revealed years of offending.

Det Insp James Rush said Dilsworth was a manipulative and predatory offender who exploited children for his own sexual gratification.

The Met launched its investigation after a victim came forward in November 2024.

Officers arrested Dilsworth in April the following year and charged him with a "long list of non-recent sexual offences".

Investigators traced two further victims and Dilsworth was further charged with offences against them.

Dilsworth was also ordered to pay two of his victims £23,500 each for the psychological harm caused.

The Met Police said it believed there could be more victims.

Officers said they were keen to hear from women who attended school in Walthamstow or recognised Dilsworth from his days as a foster carer, builder or lorry driver.

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