A probe conducted by specialised detectives at the Metropolitan Police has culminated in a life sentence for the West Drayton Paedophile Rapist, Levi Bancroft, a 22-year-old man convicted of raping two young girls and a lady.
Levi Bancroft, 22, (11.06.02) of Hanson Close, West Drayton, was sentenced on Friday, 30 May at Southwark Crown Court for four charges of rape involving three victims.
Levi Bancroft was found guilty on Tuesday, March 18, after a three-week trial at the same court.
The court was informed that over five years, Levi Bancroft sexually assaulted three women, specifically selecting them while they were isolated and defenceless. He was additionally convicted of actual bodily harm for violently assaulting one of the victims.
He was apprehended and indicted subsequent to a Metropolitan Police operation, in collaboration with Thames Valley Police, during which police utilised CCTV and DNA evidence to establish Levi Bancroft’s presence at the crime scenes.
Detective Constable Lloyd Leech, who spearheaded the Metropolitan Police’s inquiry, stated:
“A serial sexual offender has been taken off the streets, protecting women across the country.
“Levi Bancroft repeatedly targeted vulnerable women and followed a sinister pattern of behaviour. His abhorrent offending would have very likely continued if it wasn’t for this arrest and conviction.
“I commend the bravery of the three victims to come forward and report what had happened to them. Justice has now been served.”
The first allegation against Levi Bancroft was made in 2018, but subsequently closed due to the victim not feeling able to proceed. A second report was made in 2020 and the case went to trial.
During this trial, a third report from Thames Valley Police came to light and the trial was adjourned as the CPS worked to join the three cases together, after the first victim was willing to come forward again.
Detectives were able to identify Levi Bancroft as the suspect in the first and second case through DNA samples collected during medical examinations of the victims. CCTV also placed him at the scene of the second and third case, as well as data from his electronic tag from a previous knife possession offence.
He repeatedly preyed on women who were alone. In September 2018, Levi Bancroft, then 16-years-old, took a 15-year-old into a stairwell of a block of flats in Westminster in the late evening. He prevented her from leaving the block, forced her down in the stairwell and raped her.
Levi Bancroft’s pattern of offending included using threats of violence to instil fear into his victims, going on to rape them. This was shown again in January 2020, when Levi Bancroft, then 17-years-old, followed a 15-year-old girl late at night off a tube at Royal Oak Underground Station. He forced her into a nearby stairwell of a block of flats and raped her.
In November 2023, Levi Bancroft raped a transgender female in Oxford. After approaching her in the street, Levi Bancroft followed her into a cul-de-sac. Bancroft then raped her behind a parked car. As the victim ran away after the attack, Bancroft chased her while shouting transphobic and threatening comments. When he was able to catch up with her, he went on to violently assault her. The victim managed run to a local venue to seek shelter where the police were called.
Detective Constable Rebekah Routh, who led the Thames Valley investigation, added:
“I wish to commend all three victims in this case for their immense bravery in coming forward and having trust in both the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley police to bring this dangerous individual to justice.”
Under the New Met for London Plan, our mission is to deliver More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards. Central to this is transforming how we prevent harm and tackle violence against women and girls, most often committed by predatory men like Levi Bancroft.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.