Suspected serial rapist may be hiding in Ireland

A suspected serial rapist on the run from the UK authorities for 12 years was tonight being hunted in the Irish midlands.

London’s Metropolitan Police are hunting Pole Dawid Wysocki, who is accused of being involved in two brutal gang rapes.

Detectives have released a photo of the 30-year-old – also known as Andrzej Wysocki or Arthur Bryewicz – who fled London while on bail for one of the attacks.

It is believed he could be in hiding with members of the Polish community in Portlaoise.

Acting Detective Inspector Dan Brown said Met officers have been liaising closely with gardaí.

“We have strong intelligence to suggest he has been frequenting Ireland and the UK and travelling between the two,” said DI Brown.

“He has also committed offences in Ireland and at the moment we believe he is in Ireland.

“We have no evidence of any sex offences in the subsequent years since the offences we are investigating, but if any member of the public sees him they are not to approach him but contact the police or gardaí.

“There is nothing to suggest he still poses a risk, but we want to speak to him about what is a serious and violent offence.”

Two other men have been jailed for the crimes, which DI Brown described as "absolutely horrific" offences against two women.

“They were subjected to quite inhumane treatment, they were very degrading,” he continued.

“The severity of the offences is why we are still pursuing it after 12 years.”

Wysocki, a member of the Polish Romany community, was accused of being involved in the brutal gang rape on 22 September, 1996.

A 17-year-old female prostitute was kidnapped by two men in the Commercial Street area of east London and taken to an address on the Strawberry Vale Estate in Finchley, north London, where she was attacked by at least four men over a prolonged period of time.

When the victim was eventually freed she stopped a passing police vehicle and two of the group, including Wysocki, were arrested at the scene.

He was charged with rape and false imprisonment at the Old Bailey and fled while on bail.

The other suspect was jailed for 10 years for the attack and another gang rape on a 24-year-old just four days earlier. He has since been deported to Poland.

A third man arrested at the time also went on the run.

Detectives said following extensive inquiries Marek Kasperowicz, 29, was finally re-arrested in Bournemouth last June and was yesterday jailed for six years for rape and imprisonment.