MELVIN PHILBERT'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BERMONDSEY AND NORTH WEST LONDON REVEALED

On November 20, 1992, a chilling case involving Melvin Philbert, a 36-year-old man from Bermondsey, unfolded in the courts, revealing a disturbing pattern of sexual violence spanning nearly two decades. The court heard how Philbert meticulously planned his heinous acts, even maintaining a sickening diary that documented his crimes in detail, reflecting a compulsive and sadistic obsession with young girls.

Judge Neil Denison, QC, delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the danger Philbert posed to women and young girls. He stated, "On any view you are a danger to women and I am certain that only an indeterminate sentence can protect the public from you." The judge described Philbert as a compulsive sex offender with a disturbing fixation on innocent, virginal, pubescent girls. He further explained that Philbert harbored sadistic fantasies involving stalking, attacking, and emotionally scarifying his victims for life. The court ordered that Philbert be detained until authorities determine that he is safe to be released after undergoing appropriate treatment.

Philbert’s arrest in May of this year was triggered by an incident involving the molestation of five school children visiting the National History Museum. During police interviews, he shockingly confessed to a series of vicious sex crimes committed across North West London dating back to 1973. He admitted that his offending was driven by a desire for the thrill, financial gain, and a sense of sexual power.

At the time of his arrest, Philbert was working as a drama teacher and was scheduled to appear in a play titled 'Work in Progress' at the Oval Theatre, which focused on the rehabilitation of offenders. His criminal history began when he was just 16 years old, with his first known attack occurring in June 1973. Prosecutor Mr. David Waters recounted that Philbert, then only 16, stalked an 11-year-old girl before attacking her in a lift at her home. The assault involved violent kissing and a blow to her head, which left her with a suspected fractured skull. The trauma from this incident left the girl terrified of lifts even after 19 years.

The second known attack took place on October 14, 1982, when Philbert targeted a 12-year-old girl alone in her home. Disguising himself as a local council worker, he convinced her to fill out a form related to her disability. Once inside, he tied her up with her own belt at knifepoint, assaulted her indecently, and then bound and gagged her with neckties before leaving her trapped. The third attack involved a 32-year-old woman returning to her Highgate residence after a night out. Philbert grabbed her from behind, but she fought him off by kicking him in the groin. He later told police that he attacked her because he was at a nightclub and was jealous that his friends had pulled women, but he had not.

In 1986, Philbert was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for raping a woman after breaking into her home by scaling a drainpipe. While incarcerated, he even planned to attack the teenage daughters of a social worker who had become his pen pal. His criminal activities persisted, culminating in a brutal assault in May of the previous year, when he forced his way into a 26-year-old Brazilian student’s home. He lured her outside by turning on a garden tap, then followed her inside when she tried to escape. Once inside, he bound her wrists and ankles with sellotape, subjecting her to a two-and-a-half-hour ordeal that included attempted rape and other sexual violence.

Philbert’s arrest and subsequent prosecution were largely based on his detailed planning and extensive research into his victims. He would follow potential victims, monitor their routines, and identify when they were alone. He carried a rapist’s kit, including a mask, rolls of sellotape, gloves, and a knife, and meticulously planned his escape routes, rating their difficulty on a scale of ten. His diary also contained a chilling note labeled 'poss term,' indicating he was willing to kill if necessary to avoid capture.

The court heard that Philbert, a divorced father of two from Great Guildford Street, Bermondsey, admitted to causing grievous bodily harm to the 11-year-old girl, attempted rape on two occasions, five indecent assaults, two robberies, three aggravated burglaries, one attempted indecent assault, and being equipped for burglary. He also requested that twelve similar offences be taken into account during sentencing.

Psychiatrist Dr. Russell Reid described Philbert as a psychopath with an abnormally high sex drive, noting his lack of regard for the harm caused to his victims. Philbert claimed that he suffered from sadistic sex abuse at the hands of his stepfather during childhood, which he suggested might have contributed to his violent tendencies.

In court, it was revealed that Philbert was even willing to undergo chemical castration in an effort to curb his offending. The judge emphasized the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed, ruling that only an indeterminate sentence could adequately protect the public from his predatory behavior.