A convicted rapist from Anerley has been sentenced to life imprisonment after three “ruthless” sexual attacks.

Daniel Elliott, 24, of Rosewell Close, was jailed by Southwark Crown Court for two counts for rape, one count of attempted rape, one count of digital – fingers – penetration and one count of sexual touching yesterday (June 19).

He was convicted at the same court on May 21.

The court heard Elliott attacked a 28-year-old woman while she was walking home in Wallington around 10.30pm on August 3 last year.

He grabbed her round the neck from behind and threatened to stab her before sexually assaulting her and making off.

CCTV showed the suspect wearing a distinctive dark hooded top.

On September 5 last year around 2am a 16-year-old girl was out with her boyfriend, also 16, in Beddington.

A man approached them, forcing them both to ground saying he had pepper spray.

He held a tin can to the victim's eyes, then sexually assaulted and raped her.

On November 15 last year a 17-year-old-boy and 15-year-old girl were in a fenced off children's playground in Carshalton around 8.30pm.

Elliott approached them and punched the boy in the face and dragged him to the ground.

He threatened to stab him and called the girl over.

He then digitally penetrated her and tried to rape her, when she resisted he threatened to stab the boy again.

He then orally raped her before making off.

MORE TOP STORIES The teenagers immediately called the police, and DNA sample taken at the scene matched Elliott, a registered sex offender on license after previously being convicted of rape.

He was arrested on November 20 and a search of his home revealed the distinctive dark hoody seen on CCTV worn during the first attack.

Analysis of his phone out him at the scene of two of the attacks.

Elliott was charged the next day.

The court heard Elliott was previously jailed for five years and three month in 2010 after admitting raping a 19-year-old Japanese student.

She had been in the UK for a few days for an exchange trip when she met Elliott in Clockhouse, Beckenham.

In February 2010 Elliot raped her after telling her to go with him after she became separated from her friends.

Detective Inspector Keith Ward of the Met's sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, said: “Elliott is clearly an extremely ruthless, predatory and dangerous man.

“The victims have been subjected to a nightmare of unimaginable proportions and I praise them for their exceptional bravery.”

Elliott was sentenced to three years imprisonment for the Wallington sexual assault, life imprisonment for the Carshalton rape, and eight years each for the attempted rape and sexual assault, and another life imprisonment for the rape in Beddington.