Admin I Friday, June 26, 2026
A TWISTED former foster carer who transformed his home into a “hellish afterschool club” to groom and abuse vulnerable children has been jailed for 31 years.
Bradley Dilsworth, 69, operated as a wolf in sheep’s clothing in Walthamstow, presenting himself as a friendly, trustworthy neighbor while secretly subjecting young victims to horrific sexual abuse.
The monster’s reign of terror finally came to an end yesterday at Isleworth Crown Court, where a judge handed down the massive three-decade sentence. It followed his conviction in May at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 22 counts of horrific child sex offences, including multiple counts of rape.
The court heard how Dilsworth, of Phoenix Close, Walthamstow, actively preyed on five children between 2002 and 2009. His victims were aged between just seven and 16 at the time.
Using his reputation as a trusted community figure, the predator would lure school children into his home. Once inside, he allowed them to smoke and drink alcohol—a deliberate and sick tactic designed to lower their inhibitions and create opportunities to abuse them.
In one particularly harrowing instance of grooming, a victim who met Dilsworth when she was just 13 was brainwashed into believing she was in a genuine relationship with him. It was only when she grew older that she realized the devastating truth of what had happened to her.
Another victim was a little girl just seven years old, who was abused while staying at Dilsworth’s house with her parents.
During his trial, the cowardly abuser tried to claim that the children visiting his house were only there to see his son, who was of a similar age.
But a jury saw straight through his lies, rejecting his defence and convicting him of a horrific catalogue of abuse, including rape, sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and taking Category A indecent photographs.
Prior to his horrific crimes, Dilsworth had been a registered foster carer, having fostered two children during the 1980s. He also worked locally as a builder and a lorry driver.
The Met Police launched an investigation in November 2023 after a brave survivor finally found the courage to come forward. Dilsworth was arrested a year later, in November 2024, still living in the exact same house where the abuse occurred.
When detectives raided the property, they uncovered what they described as an “Aladdin’s cave” of electrical devices. Over 100 digital exhibits—including hard drives, discs, and USB sticks—were seized.
Cops also recovered internal CCTV footage from cameras positioned around the house. The seized devices exposed years of sickening offences, including indecent images of one of his victims.
The case against Dilsworth was further locked down when victims provided police with detailed floor plans of the property from memory, which perfectly matched the layout of the house.
Detective Inspector James Rush, who led the grueling investigation, praised the “immense courage” of the victim-survivors.
”Undetected for years, Dilsworth was able to abuse children in what my team uncovered to be a hellish afterschool club, lulling young people into a false sense of security and exploiting their trust,” DI Rush said.
”For the victim-survivors, speaking about their experiences many years later is incredibly difficult, and their bravery has been crucial in securing this long sentence today.”
Now, Scotland Yard has launched a major public appeal, fearing there may be more victims who have never spoken out. Because legal restrictions have lifted, police can finally ask for potential survivors to step forward.
Detectives are keeping an open mind but are urgently appealing to women who attended school in Walthamstow or who remember Dilsworth from his time as a foster carer, builder, or lorry driver.
Officers state that potential victims may have visited Dilsworth at his Phoenix Close address, or at his previous homes in:
Grove Green Road, Leyton
Bulwer Court Road, Leytonstone
Roberts Road, Walthamstow
DI Rush added: “We are determined to support all victim-survivors. I want to reassure anyone impacted that you are not alone.”
Anyone with information or looking to report a potential crime is urged to contact the Metropolitan Police on 101, quoting CAD 5076/25JUN26. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.