In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that 39-year-old William Trotter—of Dagonet Road, Bromley—was convicted of a “predatory” stranger rape and kidnap in Orpington. Trotter appeared at Croydon Crown Court where, following a 12-day trial, he was found guilty of rape and kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence. It was reported that the investigation established Trotter targeted a teenage girl on an N199 bus on 19 March 2020, tracking her movements before launching a violent ambush near Turpington Lane.
The investigation established that Trotter engaged the victim in brief conversation on the bus before both alighted at the Southborough Library stop. The prosecution reported that although Trotter initially turned in the opposite direction, bus CCTV captured him “starting to run” after the victim as soon as the vehicle pulled away. Trotter pursued the teenager to a grassy area where he struck her over the head with an unknown object, knocking her to the ground, before dragging her into bushes to carry out the rape.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that a witness heard the victim’s “terrified screams” and saw Trotter leaning over her, prompting an immediate 999 call. The investigation established that police arrived within four minutes, catching Trotter in the bushes before he fled over a fence into nearby allotments. The prosecution reported that Trotter subsequently fled to Scotland to evade a massive media manhunt, lying to relatives about his situation, but was eventually tracked back to London where he attempted to use a false name to avoid arrest.
Judge-led proceedings at Croydon Crown Court concluded with Trotter’s conviction after DNA evidence from a plastic bag left at the scene definitively linked him to the victim. For his actions in Orpington and his “calculated bid to evade justice,” he was identified as a dangerous sexual predator. The judge noted that the testimony from former partners, who identified Trotter from CCTV appeals, was a vital component in ending his flight from the law and securing a conviction for the “vile and opportunistic” assault.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Bromley and Croydon, the status of William Trotter as of April 9, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: SERVING (Sentenced December 2020; currently incarcerated in the high-security estate).
- Sentence Length: LIFE (Determined at the December 2020 sentencing hearing due to the “dangerousness” criteria).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: Subject to an INDEFINITE Sexual Harm Prevention Order (To be managed upon any potential release, including strict exclusion zones and monitoring).
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children or vulnerable adults).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Rape; Kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Croydon Crown Court; investigated by the Metropolitan Police.
- Criminal Record: Followed a teenager off a bus; Struck victim over the head before dragging her into bushes; Identified by former partners; Attempted to hide in Scotland.
- Origin: Dagonet Road, Bromley, Greater London.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Trotter is managed as a high-risk, Tier 1 dangerous sex offender within the prison system. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his “predatory stalking of a stranger” and his “use of physical violence to facilitate rape”—his management is a priority for the Metropolitan Police Jigsaw team. Authorities state that his history of fleeing to Scotland and using aliases identifies him as an individual who requires the most intensive tier of statutory oversight to ensure he can never again target women in public spaces.
As a registered sex offender for life, the 45-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that the rapid police response and DNA recovery were critical in ensuring this “sexual predator” was removed from the streets of South London. Any eventual consideration for parole will be subject to the most stringent psychiatric assessments, ensuring that the public remains protected from a man who demonstrated a persistent and “violent intent” to hunt and harm a lone female.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was identified by “former partners” after a CCTV appeal, do you believe that “Historical Partner Testimony” regarding a defendant’s character should be admissible as primary evidence in stranger-rape trials?
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.