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The Enfield shoe salesman in a global drug-rape network
A quiet father of two from north London became the first Briton convicted in a worldwide network of men who drugged and filmed sleeping women.
In brief
A quiet father of two from north London became the first Briton convicted in a worldwide network of men who drugged and filmed sleeping women. The Pelicot case was not a French anomaly. It was the thread that pulled open a network of nearly 270 men across every continent, including ordinary neighbours on ordinary…
A first conviction
Darren Conway, 52, a married shoe salesman from north London, is the first Briton convicted in a global rape network tied to France's Pelicot case.
What he actually did
On an internet forum, Conway urged men to sexually assault their own wives while the women were unconscious, asleep, or drugged into stupor.
Instructions to a husband
He told one husband to undress his sleeping wife. On other occasions he directed the man to touch her intimately while she slept.
Three years of watching
The footwear and clothing supplier spent three years secretly watching sleeping naked women, requesting videos from other forum users on at least ten occasions.
It started with Gisèle
The whole investigation traces back to global revulsion at the abuse of Gisèle Pelicot, now 73, by her husband and 50 other men.
Journalists found the rest
After Dominique Pelicot was jailed for 20 years in 2024, German journalists began digging and uncovered an international web of predators sharing abuse of drugged women.
The tip-off
Those journalists passed what they had to the UK's National Crime Agency, which then found images and videos of sedated women being assaulted and raped.
Eight Britons, seven countries
The NCA identified eight British men using the chatroom for drug-facilitated sexual offending, alongside offenders in France, Germany, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and the US.
They traded technique
Members swapped more than footage. They exchanged tips and advice on which sedatives worked best.
Nearly 270 offenders
Conway is the first person convicted out of a drug-rape network the investigation puts at close to 270 offenders.
The neighbour's view
To his street in Enfield he was unremarkable. He lived with his family in a semi-detached house and said hello on the pavement.
“Darren is not the person you would expect to be involved in something like this.”
Eleven guilty pleas
At Wood Green Crown Court he admitted eleven charges, including nine of encouraging others to sexually assault unconscious or stupefied women between 2023 and 2026.
No emotion in the dock
Conway showed nothing as he also pleaded guilty to voyeurism and possession of extreme pornography.
A forum built for it
The prosecutor described a platform whose function was connecting men already involved in organised sexual offending and domestic abuse.
“The indictment reflects the defendant's involvement in an online forum which connects others who are involved in organised sexual offending and domestic abuse.”
More charges may follow
Alexander Agbamu told the court the offending stretches back years and involves scores of other men, with fresh evidence arriving since proceedings began.
“The extent of the offending goes back some years and involves scores of other offenders.”
One of many inquiries
The case follows a similar one in Manchester and is described as an early strand of a much wider set of investigations across Britain.
“The case had generated many other inquiries across the country, and this is one of them.”
The judge on dangerousness
Judge John Dodd called them unusual, extremely serious sexual offences and said he needs help on several issues, including whether Conway is dangerous.
“Mr Conway has pleaded guilty to some unusual serious sexual offences.”
Violated at home
London's Chief Crown Prosecutor framed the harm around place: these women were attacked where they were meant to be safest.
“Darren Conway committed vile acts against women in their own homes, a place where they should have been safe.”
The victims are unidentified
Police are still working through footage on Conway's devices to name the women. Most offending appears to be UK-based, but some victims may be abroad.
A call to come forward
The Met asked anyone who suspects they were targeted, or who knows someone involved, to contact police. Conway will be sentenced on October 30.
“Anyone who has reason to believe that they may have been a victim of sexual offending should report to police.”
The takeaway
The Pelicot case was not a French anomaly. It was the thread that pulled open a network of nearly 270 men across every continent, including ordinary neighbours on ordinary streets.
