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| Rapist gets five life sentences | Rapist gets five life sentences |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A man has received five life sentences for a string of rapes on women near their homes in east London. | A man has received five life sentences for a string of rapes on women near their homes in east London. |
| Lester Ford, 24, attacked four women in or near their homes, then wrote descriptions of the sex acts he had forced them to do. | Lester Ford, 24, attacked four women in or near their homes, then wrote descriptions of the sex acts he had forced them to do. |
| When he was arrested, soon after the fourth attack, police found a folder with details of his crimes. | When he was arrested, soon after the fourth attack, police found a folder with details of his crimes. |
| Southwark Crown Court heard how Ford, of Pemell Close, Bethnal Green, London, had threatened to kill all his victims. | Southwark Crown Court heard how Ford, of Pemell Close, Bethnal Green, London, had threatened to kill all his victims. |
| 'Stunted development' | 'Stunted development' |
| Ford had been seen peering through windows of houses near his east London residence. | Ford had been seen peering through windows of houses near his east London residence. |
| He had raped two of his victims, including a 61-year-old woman. | He had raped two of his victims, including a 61-year-old woman. |
| Southwark Crown Court had heard Ford had "little chance of developing normally". | Southwark Crown Court had heard Ford had "little chance of developing normally". |
| It was told he had been brought up in a brothel by a mother who had a "malign influence" over him. | It was told he had been brought up in a brothel by a mother who had a "malign influence" over him. |
| Doctors who examined him likened him to a 14-year-old boy despite his age. | Doctors who examined him likened him to a 14-year-old boy despite his age. |
| Ford had threatened his victims -attacked between March 2003 and November 2005 - with a knife, and in one case an iron bar. Two of those attacked had allowed him into their home - on one occasion Ford had impersonated a police officer. | Ford had threatened his victims -attacked between March 2003 and November 2005 - with a knife, and in one case an iron bar. Two of those attacked had allowed him into their home - on one occasion Ford had impersonated a police officer. |
| The victim, who had been working until early in the morning, heard a knock at the door and a male voice saying: "It's the police, we've found someone round the back." | The victim, who had been working until early in the morning, heard a knock at the door and a male voice saying: "It's the police, we've found someone round the back." |
| Student raped | Student raped |
| When she opened the door, Ford forced his way in and threatened her with a knife. He sexually assaulted her and then fled when he heard a television upstairs. | |
| The court heard another attack took place on a medical student leaving her house at 0530 to go horse-riding. | The court heard another attack took place on a medical student leaving her house at 0530 to go horse-riding. |
| He held a knife to her throat and walked her to a nearby railway track, where he sexually assaulted her and forced her to carry out a sex act. | He held a knife to her throat and walked her to a nearby railway track, where he sexually assaulted her and forced her to carry out a sex act. |
| During another attack, Ford was scared off when the woman he had targeted screamed. | During another attack, Ford was scared off when the woman he had targeted screamed. |
| Judge Anthony Pitts said Ford only stopped his attack because the woman "screamed with all her might". | Judge Anthony Pitts said Ford only stopped his attack because the woman "screamed with all her might". |
| I could exhaust the dictionary's list of adjectives in describing these attacks Judge Anthony Pitts | I could exhaust the dictionary's list of adjectives in describing these attacks Judge Anthony Pitts |
| The 61-year-old victim was attacked soon after. Ford knocked on her door and when she opened it he forced his way in, covering her mouth before sexually assaulting and raping her. | The 61-year-old victim was attacked soon after. Ford knocked on her door and when she opened it he forced his way in, covering her mouth before sexually assaulting and raping her. |
| The court heard found DNA obtained by police during Ford's first attack matched that on his folder. | The court heard found DNA obtained by police during Ford's first attack matched that on his folder. |
| Ford pleaded guilty to 15 counts including two of rape, three of sexual assault, three of indecent assault as well as kidnapping and robbery. | Ford pleaded guilty to 15 counts including two of rape, three of sexual assault, three of indecent assault as well as kidnapping and robbery. |
| Judge Pitts said he posed a "serious risk of harm to women" and passed five concurrent life sentences, setting a minimum term to be served at five years and 81 days. | Judge Pitts said he posed a "serious risk of harm to women" and passed five concurrent life sentences, setting a minimum term to be served at five years and 81 days. |
| "I could exhaust the dictionary's list of adjectives in describing these attacks - they were appalling, brutal, outrageous and terrifying," Judge Pitts said. | "I could exhaust the dictionary's list of adjectives in describing these attacks - they were appalling, brutal, outrageous and terrifying," Judge Pitts said. |
| He said the victims had been left scarred for life and that the attacks "ruined their self-confidence and changed their personalities". | He said the victims had been left scarred for life and that the attacks "ruined their self-confidence and changed their personalities". |