Catford man convicted of raping woman dragged into alley

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 13:19 · Archive

Melbourne Thompson was convicted of rape and robbery after attacking a woman near Catford in April.

Melbourne Thompson, 41, of Eltham, was convicted of rape and robbery at the Old Bailey on 9 October. On 12 April at about 7am, he followed a woman on her way to work near Catford. He punched her in the head, told her he had a gun, and dragged her into a side alley off Minard Road where he raped her orally and stole her phone from her jacket pocket.

A bus driver called 999 after the victim boarded his bus on Brownhill Road and reported the assault. The stolen phone was found four minutes from Thompson's home. Thompson was a registered sex offender, having been convicted of indecent assault in 2005. He was arrested on 28 April and charged to appear at Bromley Magistrates' Court, where he was remanded in custody.

Detective Constable Charlie Lockett paid tribute to the victim for reporting the 'unimaginably distressing' incident. Police said they are investigating whether Thompson may be responsible for other sexual assaults, though no further offences have been identified so far. Thompson will be sentenced on 4 December.

How it is being reported

• Man punched woman in head before dragging her into Catford alley and raping herA woman was punched in the head, threatened with a gun, and dragged into an alleyway before being raped by a man as she walked to work in Catford.News Shopper · 10 Oct, 14:29
• Man punched woman in head before dragging her into Catford alley and raping herA woman was punched in the head, threatened with a gun, and dragged into an alleyway before being raped by a man as she walked to work in Catford.This Is Local London · 10 Oct, 14:29
• Dangerous Catford sex attacker dragged woman walking to work down alley and raped herPolice have paid tribute to the victim-survivor after the 'unimaginably distressing' sexual assaultMyLondon · 10 Oct, 10:33

In this story: Melbourne Thompson · Catford · Eltham · Old Bailey · Minard Road

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem