Sex offender freed from secure London hospital went on a horrific three-day rampage of sexual violence against eight women

A vicious sex offender was let out of a secure hospital and went on a horrific four-day rampage of sexual violence against eight women, eventually raping a jogger at knifepoint.

Louis Collins, 29, subjected his final victim to an hour-long ordeal after dragging her away from her running route just days after he walked out of Lambeth Hospital unescorted.

The pornography addict hit the woman on the head from behind as she jogged in Marble Hill Park in Twickenham, south-west London.

He showed her a knife and a broken bottle and said ‘don’t scream, nobody’s going to help you’, before ripping her clothes off and assaulting her.

The serial sex offender had attacked seven other women across London during the previous 72 hours before he was eventually captured.

He pleaded guilty to 27 charges including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault between August 18 and 21 last year.

Collins left Lambeth Hospital in south London on August 18 after doctors agreed he could have an unescorted leave of absence, Patricia May, prosecuting, told his sentencing hearing. Shortly afterwards he groped a woman at Clapham Common station as she rode up the escalator.

Collins returned to the hospital later than he should have, but despite this was permitted to leave again. On August 20, he left the hospital again and went on to attack and attempt to rape two other women, sexually assault four more and threaten to kill a further victim.

But Collins’ final attack at 8am on August 21 was his most horrific, Ms May told the court.

The rapist hit the jogger over the head and forced her to the ground. The victim shouted for help and two women began to approach her, but Collins yelled ‘f*** off or I will kill you’ and they left.

In a statement read to Kingston Crown Court, the victim said: ‘On August 21, my world turned upside down. What happened on that day shattered my sense of security, trust in people and justice.’ The victim said she had faced 18-month waiting lists for professional counselling to help her deal with the trauma.

Siobhan Molloy, defending, said Collins, who is originally from Croydon in south London, claimed that voices in his head had compelled him to carry out the attacks but a doctor had found he did not have a psychotic illness.

The South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, responsible for Lambeth Hospital, has been contacted for comment.

Collins will be sentenced today.