'Beast' rapist gets seven life terms

A "RUTHLESS sexual predator" was last night beginning seven life sentences for terrorising England's Home Counties in a year-long "sustained and vicious campaign of rape" against women and girls as young as 10.

"Beast" Antoni Imiela, aged 49, prowled the south-east of England between November, 2001, and October, 2002, for victims, before overwhelming them with force and threats to kill. Mr Justice Owen handed down seven life sentences to Imiela after he was convicted of raping four women and three girls aged from 10 to 52 at Maidstone Crown Court.

Imiela, a railway worker from Appledore, near Ashford in Kent, was also given concurrent sentences of 10 years, seven years and 12 years for the kidnap, indecent assault and attempted rape of a 10-year-old girl in Birmingham.