Serial sex attacker admits four rapes

A serial sex attacker who attacked young women in the student area of Liverpool has admitted a string of offences.

Andrew McCarten, 24, of Charlotte Road, Wallasey, Merseyside, pleaded guilty to four rapes and two indecent assaults at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard he was finally caught in July 2002 hiding in the home of a 16-year-old girl he had just raped.

Her boyfriend, who had heard McCarten break in while on the phone to the girl, had alerted the police who found him hiding in a cupboard under the stairs.

The attacks took place in the Greenbank Park area

David Turner QC, prosecuting, said a feature of the case was all of McCarten's victims had long blonde hair.

He was named the Greenbank rapist after the Greenbank Park student area of south Liverpool where he carried out his attacks over a 15-month period.

McCarten denied 15 other charges of indecent assault, threats to kill, false imprisonment and stealing from his victims.

'Long prison sentence'

These charges will lie on the file.

Sentencing was adjourned until 3 March for the preparation of psychiatric reports.

But Judge Dennis Clarke warned him to "steel" himself for a "very long prison sentence".

Addressing McCarten's victims, most of who were in court, the judge said: "I pay tribute to your courage and your strength of character in coming here and facing your attacker."