North African illegal immigrant jailed for campaign of sex attacks

He stalked them from busy areas near Tube stations to quiet residential areas and then violently assaulted them on their own doorsteps, including one attacked in her hallway, Inner London Crown Court heard.

After he was jailed on Thursday police revealed that Midani, who took a cocktail of cocaine and hard liquor before he struck, may have been on his way to commit another attack when he was arrested following a public appeal.

His sordid campaign forced police to increase patrols in the Brixton and Clapham areas of London, as fears mounted over where he might strike next.

Judge Nicholas Madge also ordered that he serve an extended period of two years on licence after being released, saying that he was "dangerous".

The Algerian stood cross-armed with an emotionless expression on his face, listening via an Arabic interpreter, as the judge told him he had brought "terror" to his victims.

Judge Madge said: "I have no doubt, having viewed extensive CCTV footage of you and your victims, that you hung around in the Brixton and Clapham North area with the sole purpose of picking out young women, stalking them until they reached their homes and then sexually assaulting them.

"At times, you waited while the young woman went into a shop and then continued your pursuit when she emerged. You followed women, for up to 20 minutes, from crowded areas with many people to quiet and secluded residential streets."

He added: "The experience of this court is that sexual attacks on women by strangers in the street are rare. In that sense, London is a relatively safe city.

"However, courts will do all they can to keep it that way and to protect women by imposing long sentences upon anyone who attacks women, especially at night."

He added that a report on the attacker had shown "a sense of entitlement over women and a desire to seek sexual gratification", saying: "You are more concerned about your own future than the women you attacked."

The court heard that the UK Border Agency had no record of Midani entering Britain, and he would be deported after serving his sentence.

Midani's attacks spanned a period between October 22 and 31, with four taking place in Brixton between 7.30pm and 11.30pm on October 28, the court heard.

Most were grabbed roughly from behind as they put the keys in the door to go into their homes.

The Algerian, of no fixed abode, was arrested in Brixton on November 2 after a member of the public recognised him from CCTV released to the media, called 999 and followed him until officers arrived.

Outside court, senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Keith Braithwaite said Midani "could well have been" on his way to commit another attack at the time.

Because he was arrested in the street, Police still don't know where he was living apart from that it was somewhere in the north of the capital.

Midani refused to talk to police and did not give evidence at his trial. He was picked out of an identity parade and also left DNA evidence, the court heard.

He claimed in a pre-sentence report he had been high on a cocktail of whisky, vodka and cocaine when he carried out the offences, having travelled to Brixton from north London to buy drugs.

Police also linked Midani with two more sexual assaults and two more incidents of indecent exposure, meaning four additional potential victims, but did not have enough evidence to prosecute him.

Det Insp Braithwaite said: "Clearly this man is a danger to the public and today's sentence reflects how seriously the Metropolitan Police and the judiciary take such matters.

"During a period of 10 days Midani caused fear within the local community by his horrific and callous crimes."

Midani was convicted in April of six counts of sexual assault and one common assault. He admitted a seventh charge of sexual assault.

On Thursday he was given sentences of between four and 42 months for the eight counts, which Judge Madge allowed to run consecutively to reach his final sentence.