Hunt for phone call rapist

A rapist kept his young victim prisoner for an hour-and-a-half while he talked on his mobile phone.

The 19-year-old woman was hit across the back of the neck and then raped as she walked home from work in Chingford, north-east London at 2030 BST on Wednesday.

But she was held for 90 minutes as her attacker held a conversation on his mobile phone.

The woman managed to knock on nearby doors to raise the alarm and was taken to hospital.

Police have also said that another woman was attacked in the same alleyway on Wednesday afternoon.

The 31-year-old was walking with her four-year-old son, when she was hit on the back of the head with what is believed to be a loaded handgun.

This was a dreadful attack on a young woman, unusual in the length of time the suspect remained with his victim

Detective Sergeant Colin Sims

The attacker then talked on his phone before suddenly letting the woman go, but police believe the assault was sexually motivated.

Police say the rape attack, which took place in an alleyway between Cavendish Road and Empress Avenue, was particularly unusual because of the length of time it went on.

Detective Sergeant Colin Sims said: "This was a dreadful attack on a young woman, unusual in the length of time the suspect remained with his victim.

"He spent some of that time on a mobile phone, apparently in conversation.

Similar descriptions

"This is also an unusual feature of this incident.

"We need to trace this man as quickly as possible before he can strike again."

Both women gave similar descriptions of the man and police are linking the attacks.

The suspect was Asian, of slim build and 5 ft 7 in tall with short black hair, a London accent and was wearing tinted sunglasses.