Elderly victim helped police catch her attacker

A man has been jailed today for invading an elderly woman's home in Chiswick and sexually assaulting her.

Christopher Curtis, aged 56, of Boston Gardens, Brentford had previously pleaded guilty to a number of offences related to the incident.

In the early hours of Sunday, 2nd January this year the victim, aged 77, was in bed asleep when Curtis entered her bedroom, having smashed a downstairs window to get into her home.

He turned on the light which woke her up and then threatened her with a knife. The woman began to struggle with him and he punched her in the head and face.

Curtis took her downstairs after she told him she needed her heart medication. Whilst in the kitchen he sexually assaulted her. As he took the victim back upstairs she distracted him long enough to enable her to get a phone off the hook and dial 999. He noticed what she was doing and cut off the call.

Police were quickly able to trace where the silent call had come from and officers went to the address to check on the welfare of the resident.

As they rang the doorbell, the defendant ran down the stairs and the victim was able to throw her door keys out of the bedroom window. The officers let themselves into the house and Christopher Curtis was arrested in the kitchen.

He was sentenced to an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection with a minimum term of 11 years and two months before parole can be considered.

Detective Constable Anthony Stanton of Sapphire said: "This was a frightening attack on a vulnerable woman in her own home who bravely managed to distract the defendant long enough to call police. It is possible there may be further victims' of Curtis who have not reported their allegations to police and I would particularly appeal to them to speak to us on 020 8733 3773.

"I hope this conviction encourages any victims' of sexual assault to come forward and speak to our specially trained Sapphire officers, who can offer access to the appropriate support whilst carrying out their investigations sensitively."

May 27, 2011