ANTHONY CRAWFORD FROM LUTON JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS AT AQUA VALE IN AYLESBURY

In October 2015, Anthony Crawford, a 40-year-old man from Blenheim Crescent in Luton, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses committed at Aqua Vale swimming pool in Aylesbury. The crimes, which took place on February 7 and April 2 of that year, involved disturbing acts of sexual assault and voyeurism targeting young girls.

According to court reports, Crawford, who is the director of a small firm employing five staff members, engaged in predatory behavior by changing into his trunks and prowling around the swimming pool area for approximately ten minutes, searching for victims. His actions culminated when he spotted two girls, aged 15 and 16, entering a cubicle together. Seizing the opportunity, Crawford rushed to an adjacent room, laid down on the floor, and then reached under the cubicle wall to sexually assault the two girls as they sat on a nearby bench. The assault was described as both brazen and disturbing, with Crawford’s behavior raising serious concerns about his intentions.

In addition to these assaults, Crawford was also found guilty of spying on a 19-year-old woman while she was changing at the same Aqua Vale swimming pool less than a month later. The judge, Justin Cole, characterized Crawford’s actions as ‘disturbing’ and ‘concerning,’ emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses. The jury reached a majority verdict after a three-day trial held last month, and Crawford was subsequently sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Lynda Stearman expressed her gratitude to the victims for their bravery in coming forward. She stated, “I would like to thank the victims for their courage in reporting these offenses to police, and their bravery in going through the court process. It is thanks to them that Crawford is now behind bars. I hope that the sentence today will give them a sense of justice being served and enable them to start to move on with their lives.”

During the court proceedings, Crawford attempted to downplay his actions, claiming he merely ‘pinched’ the girls’ towels. However, prosecutor Alison Ginn refuted this, pointing out Crawford’s suspicious behavior, including his head turning towards the girls and then quickly entering the cubicle, which indicated intent. She also noted that Crawford did not appear wet, suggesting he was not there for swimming but rather for inappropriate reasons.

The victims recounted their experiences, describing feelings of shock and fear. They rushed to the female toilets afterward, feeling safer there. They reported the incidents to a woman at the pool, who observed that they were ‘quivering,’ ‘visibly upset,’ and ‘in tears,’ highlighting the emotional trauma inflicted by Crawford’s actions.

Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service’s chief crown prosecutor, Adrian Foster, praised the victims’ courage, saying, “It is only due to the great bravery of the victims that the despicable behavior of this man has been exposed. I would like to pay tribute to them for their strength and tenacity in coming forward. The emotional impact — on the victims and their families — of Crawford’s actions is impossible to quantify. I hope that the conviction and sentence provide some small measure of comfort to them. Our thoughts are very much with them at this difficult time.”