Women warned about serial rapist

Police are warning women walking alone to be extra vigilant as they hunt a rapist who has struck six times.

Detectives are now linking the assaults in Enfield, Southgate, Arnos Grove and Winchmore Hill areas of north London.

The first victim was raped in January last year and there have been five more sexual assaults over a year.

The man is described as black, about 5ft 9in tall, of muscular build. Police say he spoke in mock patois, as satirised by the comedian Ali G.

Police do not know if this is his normal mode of speech and say two other victims described him as having a foreign accent.

Officers also believe he has good local knowledge.

Detective Chief Superintendant Andy Murphy told BBC News Online: "I must stress these descriptions have come during the course of an attack and we have to keep an open mind in relation to the descriptions themselves and to this mention of accent."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We are issuing warnings to lone women in the immediate vicinity of the attacks to take appropriate personal safety precautions, such as avoiding walking alone at night and if possible to carry rape alarms."

Police advice to women Avoid walking alone at night Stay on well-lit roads Leave your mobile phone in a bag, switched on Pre-arrange transport - use licensed cabs or black cabs Carry rape alarm Tell friends or family where you are going and when you expect to return

The first assault (one on the map) happened at 2357 GMT on 16 January, 2003.

A 22-year-old woman had been walking home along The Ridgeway, Enfield, when she was grabbed from behind and dragged towards bushes.

After being raped the victim was told not to move before the attacker left unseen.

He struck again on 5 March when a 19-year-old was attacked as she walked home along Chase Road in Southgate (two on the map) at 0410 GMT.

She was grabbed from behind, raped and told to wait in the road until her attacker had gone.

A 35-year-old was the next victim when she was dragged to the side of the pavement on Waterfall Road, Southgate (three on the map), and raped on 13 December at 0120 GMT.

Fought off

His first victim this year was a 22-year-old who was indecently assaulted on Bourne Hill, Winchmore Hill (four on the map), on 11 January at 2320 GMT.

Two more women were attacked in January.

A 23-year-old managed to fight him off on 20 January after being grabbed from behind on Waterfall Road (five on the map) at 2320 GMT.

But just nine days later he grabbed a 27-year-old from behind on Waterfall Road (six on the map) at 2215 GMT and raped her.