Urgent warning as cops hunt serial rapist preying on lone women leaving late-night London clubs and bars
A SERIAL rapist has been preying on lone women leaving late-night clubs and bars, police warn.
Two attacks more than four years apart have now been forensically linked, they said today.
And detectives hunting the predator say it is “highly likely” they are not the only times he has struck.
They issued CCTV footage showing the night hunter rapist moving in on one of his helpless victims.
He put his arms around her as she staggered along a road in Shoreditch, East London, in the early hours of December 10 2022.
She was then raped by the burly sex fiend, who wore a leather jacket, jeans and trainers and had dark hair balding at the crown.
The victim bravely gave her consent for the video to be released in the hope of identifying him.
Police also re-issued an e-fit of the same suspect compiled by a woman he raped off The Strand, central London, just before 3am on May 5 2018.
It shows him with a beard and looking younger than the footage of him four years and seven months later.
Det Insp Chris Heathcote appealed for information to help catch the monster after confirming the forensic link.
He said: “Given the four-year gap, we must assume that it’s highly likely the suspect has carried out further attacks.”
A review of unsolved rapes had not yielded any more links.
But he urged anyone who feels they have been a victim to come forward.
He added: “The suspect involved in both incidents appears to target lone women in the night time economy.
“I understand there will be concern that this individual remains outstanding, but can offer every assurance that we are taking all possible steps to ensure he is found and brought to justice for these awful crimes.”