Women heading to London's bars and clubs are warned serial rapist is 'clearly' targeting lone victims: Police link 'predator' seen grabbing female on street in chilling CCTV to another rape four years prior - but campaigners claim Met reacted 'too late'

Women heading to London's bars and clubs have been warned a serial rapist is 'clearly' targeting lone victims on their way home.

The attacker is being hunted by the Metropolitan Police over the rapes of two women four years apart as they walked the streets of the capital in busy nightlife hotspots.

Horrifying CCTV footage of the second attack, released by the force and reissued today, shows a man grabbing a lone woman in the street, who he later raped in Shoreditch, east London in 2022. 

The same suspect is believed to have raped another victim four years earlier on the other side of the capital near The Strand.

The case has chilling echoes of the 'Night Bus Beast' who detectives fear may have preyed on 100 female passengers, many as they made their way home alone.

Scotland Yard took the unusual step of publicly linking the two rapes, and releasing footage of the suspect on the prowl, as detectives fear it is 'highly likely' there are more victims. 

The detective leading the probe today issued the chilling warning to women in busy London hotspots where they should feel safe that the suspect involved in both incidents 'appears to target lone women in the night time economy'.

It came as Norman Brennan, a former London police officer and knife crime campaigner, told MailOnline the suspect is 'clearly taking advantage' of victims when they are alone and vulnerable, sparking fears more could be targeted in the coming days and weeks.

He said: 'There are so few police about now that we as a nation don't feel safe and when a woman is walking home alone in the early hours - when there aren't many pedestrians about - they are very, very vulnerable.

'This individual is clearly taking advantage of it. He is a dangerous man. He needs to be arrested and convicted.

'Whatever views the people have of the police - they don't always get it right, but they mostly do. If we actually worked closer with them and supported them then people like this individual are more likely to be arrested and convicted.

'Some people have lost faith in the police; I understand their concerns but that is never the right thig to do.

'The majority of police are outstanding officers, and they want people like this individual off the street because it is one less dangerous rapist that won't put people at risk.'

The Met has reissued its appeal, including footage of the second rape victim being grabbed on Curtain Road, Shoreditch in 2022, as part of its efforts to catch the predator.

In the sickening video, the man is seen locking his arm with the woman's as he walks her down the dark street. 

Shortly after, the woman pulls their arms apart and takes a step backwards so her back is to a fence.

The suspect then opens his jacket as he moves forward, wraps his arms around the victim and turns her body.

Campaigners from women's social justice organisation, Reclaim These Streets, told MailOnline the Met's response to the predator was 'two years too late'. 

Co-founder Jamie Klingler said: 'So, two years after the last heinous predatory attack that was captured on CCTV, the women of London are being told that a serial rapist is on the loose for six years and finally releasing a suspect's picture. 

'And this is supposed to what? Make us feel like the Met cares about women's safety?

'When they want to accelerate a manhunt and prioritise women's safety they are capable - but the warning and photofit is two years too late.'

The Met said the campaigner's comments were 'not fair' as a spokesperson said the force released suspect images after both offences and that 'detectives were carrying out numerous enquiries to try and identify the man prior to this latest media appeal.' 

Mr Brennan, who served for 31 years, added that: 'The safety of women is obviously paramount. 

'It's a nasty criminal coward that looks for a vulnerable woman having had a night out with her friends or whatever - to find herself being raped walking alone feeling vulnerable.

'As a society, if we truly care about the safety of women, if we see something that doesn't look right, I think that we really have a duty to stop our car or at leas go up to them and ask them if they are okay. The majority of them will say they are fine.'

Scotland Yard said that forensic work by detectives have established that the same, as yet unidentified, man is responsible for both crimes, and officers are keen to hear from any further potential victims, as well as anyone who believes they may know the attacker. 

DI Heathcote, responsible for investigating rape and serious offences in east London, said: 'These two offences were initially investigated by separate teams given the distance between the two incidents, however we have since been able to forensically link the same individual to both offences. 

'Given the four-year gap, we must assume that it's highly likely the suspect has carried out further attacks. 

'A review of all unsolved rapes for this time period has identified no links to these two offences, but I would appeal to anyone who feels they have been a victim to come forward.' 

The police issued media appeals after both incidents and another again last month but the suspect remain unidentified.  

The first attack took place at around 02.50hrs on Saturday 5 May, 2018 near to The Strand. 

Police said significant enquiries were carried out by officers in an attempt to identify the suspect, including detailed analysis of hours of CCTV footage.

During the second incident, the victim was raped in the early hours of Saturday, 10 December 2022 in Curtain Road E2. 

The investigation team continues to carry out a number of enquiries in relation to the wider investigation, including further testing of the DNA samples which linked the two incidents, the force added.

'The suspect involved in both incidents appears to target lone women in the night time economy,' DI Heathcote said.

'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.

'If you believe you have been a victim or recognise the man from any of the material released please come forward. Any information – no matter how small – could help us with our investigation.'

The case has chilling echoes of that of Kirk Reid, known as the 'Night Bus Beast' because he pounced on female passengers as they made their way home alone.

He was convicted of 26 indecent assaults and two rapes in 2009 and jailed for life with a recommendation that he serve at least seven and a half years.

However police investigation Reid believe he may have targeted as many as a hundred victims between 2001 and 2008 in south London before he was finally caught.

Anyone with information which could assist the investigation team is asked to contact 101 quoting CAD 6163/26MAR24.