A depraved sex attacker has been jailed for life after pleading guilty to the brutal rape and imprisonment of a 29-year-old Battersea woman.

Anthony Mark Burke changed his plea as his trial began at Kingston Crown Court in the face of overwhelming DNA evidence linking him to a knifepoint rape in Battersea on February 19 and a robbery, believed to have had a sexual motive, of a woman as she got into her car into Lewisham on March 28.

At his sentencing on Wednesday the court heard how 29-year-old Burke used the same unusual methods in the two attacks.

Prosecution counsel Hugh Davies explained how Burke had forced his gloved fingers into his victim's mouth's to gain control over them and stop them screaming. He also repeatedly demanded cash and jewellery and used violence.

The court heard that on February 19, he had followed the 29-year-old blonde woman into her Battersea home at around 8.30pm. He forced her into the flat and demanded money and jewellery, while repeatedly punching her in the head.

He then tied her up with flex, and, despite her pleas, raped her.

When it became clear she lived alone, twisted Burke told her: "I could stay here all night if I wanted to and no-one would know."

He fled from the scene of the March 28 attack in Lewisham after his 37-year-old victim bit his hand. His fingerprints and one of his gloves were found in her car.

Burke, from Lewisham, who pleaded guilty to charges of rape, false imprisonment and robbery, has a raft of previous convictions going back 14 years and DNA left at the scenes of the two attacks, led police to him.

He twice stood trial at Southwark Crown Court for a rape in Lewisham in March 2000.

At the first trial the jury failed to reach a verdict and he was acquitted at the second. Burke was released from custody in November 2000 and committed the Battersea rape barely two months later.

Speaking to the News after the sentencing, DS Teresa Defanis, of Wandsworth CID, said: "We are very pleased that the thorough nature of this investigation and the conclusive DNA evidence has led to guilty pleas.

"I would also like to praise the bravery of the women involved and appeal to any other women who may have been victims of Burke to come forward."

November 16, 2001 11:32